The Journey of Beef: From Our Ranch to Your Table
At Classen Land & Cattle, we’re proud to take you on a behind-the-scenes look at the journey our beef takes from conception to your table. From the moment our cattle are conceived to the day they’re processed, it’s a journey that takes about two years — and every step of the way, we ensure the highest level of care and attention.
1. The Beginning: Cow-Calf to Start
The journey starts on our first generation family-owned ranch. Our cattle are raised as part of a cow-calf operation, meaning we breed our own cattle to high quality bulls and raise the calves from birth. We have control over their environment from the very first step insuring our commitment to quality of life. Once born, the calves stay with their mothers to nurse and grow, for about 7 months. The focus of our cow-calf operation is to raise healthy, productive cows and produce strong, healthy calves that will replace mother cows in our herd or be prepared for beef production later. Once the calves are seperated and determined they will be in our beef production herd, we begin to finish them.
2. Growing Up: Healthy, Stress-Free Environment
After the calves are born, we continue to provide them with the best care. They are raised in a low-stress environment where they are fed a nutrient-rich, natural diet. This process ensures they develop properly and grow into strong, healthy animals. Over the course of about a year, they are nurtured with the highest standards, ensuring their health and well-being every step of the way. The goal is to get the cattle to the ideal weight for finishing. Backgrounding provides the proper nutrition and care that helps cattle develop a solid frame before transitioning to a higher-energy diet for finishing. This phase usually lasts several months, depending on the farm's goals and the desired weight of the cattle before they enter the final finishing phase. The backgrounding phase is critical for ensuring the cattle are healthy, strong, and ready for the finishing stage, where they will be fed a special diet to enhance marbling and tenderness for high-quality beef.
3. Finishing: The Final Stage
As our cattle reach the finishing stage, we provide them with a carefully balanced diet to promote marbling — that rich, tender texture that makes our beef so flavorful. The finishing phase typically takes another 6 months, during which time we ensure the cattle are comfortable, well-fed, and continue to grow at a healthy, natural pace. The finishing phase is the final stage where cattle are fed a high-energy diet, typically grain-based, to promote rapid weight gain and develop marbling, which enhances flavor and tenderness. The goal is to create beef that is tender, juicy, and flavorful, ensuring it meets premium standards before processing.
4. Small-Batch Processing: Quality Every Step of the Way
When the cattle are ready for processing, they are transported to local, USDA-inspected facilities, where they are processed in small batches. This allows us to maintain the quality and attention to detail that makes our beef so special. Each cut is handled carefully, ensuring the highest level of tenderness and flavor.
5. Locking in Freshness: Blast Freezing and Vacuum Sealing
Once processed, we use blast freezing to lock in the beef's peak freshness and flavor. Each cut is then vacuum sealed, so it stays fresh until it reaches your door.
6. Direct Delivery: From Our Ranch to Your Table
At Classen Land & Cattle, we offer multiple ways to get our fresh, high-quality beef into your hands. You can find us at local farmers markets, or take advantage of our door delivery or shipping options to have beef delivered directly to your home. Whether you pick up from the market or have it shipped, our direct-to-consumer model ensures your beef is always fresh, sourced straight from our ranch, and handled with care from start to finish.
Why It Matters
From conception to processing, it takes two full years to raise our cattle to maturity. During that time, we ensure that every animal is treated with care and respect, raised in a stress-free environment, and finished to bring out the best in flavor and tenderness. At Classen Land & Cattle, we take pride in our cow-calf to finish operation, which allows us to offer you beef that is truly exceptional.
By supporting us, you’re supporting a way of life that values quality, integrity, and holistic care for both the land and the animals we raise. When you serve Classen Land & Cattle beef, you’re not just feeding your family — you’re feeding them with the care and dedication that has been in the making for two years.
Cows on cornstalks
