We’ve been looking out the window every morning, hoping for some kind of moisture—snow or rain. While the warm weather has been a welcome break from harsh winters, we are desperate for precipitation. Last years dry conditions put us into a drought, which severely limited our hay crop this summer. This meant we had to purchase hay—a necessary but less-than-ideal solution for our operation.
Because of this ongoing lack of precipitation, we made the difficult decision to reduce our herd size this fall. When grass and feed are scarce, ranchers often have to make tough calls, and for us, that meant selling off any breeding stock that wasn’t pregnant. During preg checks, we evaluated all our cows, including first-year mamas (heifers), young cows, and older cows. Those that were pregnant stayed, while those that weren’t were sold.
This wasn’t an easy decision, as we care deeply for our animals and provide them with the most humane care possible. But at the end of the day, our cattle are our livelihood. In a drought year, keeping stock that isn’t contributing to the ranch’s sustainability just isn’t an option.
One bright spot during these challenges has been our steers for our grass-fed and grass-finished beef program. They got to stay because they play a vital role in providing meat for our summer farmer’s markets. These steers are a key part of our operation, and we’re excited to continue bringing high-quality beef to our local community.
We had some family fun this Christmas, as Brandon and I took the kids back to Ohio to spend time with my family. It was such a treat to escape the day-to-day responsibilities of the ranch and enjoy “city” activities with the kids. From the trampoline park to the conservatory to shopping malls, our kids loved having activities right at their fingertips—such a big change from life on the ranch, where everything is a bit of a drive and outings are usually reserved for Saturdays. It was a blessing to reconnect with family and make some wonderful memories.
On the business side, we had one super exciting milestone just before Christmas! Brandon and I made the big decision to purchase a brand-new walk-in freezer for West Cattle Company! It’ll be set up and ready to go before farmer’s market season kicks off in June, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. While we already have a large portable freezer trailer, we’ve outgrown that space as our business has expanded. Adding a walk-in freezer will give us much more room to store products, which means we can keep growing our inventory and bringing even more exciting new offerings to you.
Now that we’re back and refreshed from the holidays, we’re diving into the new year. January marks the start of applications for farmer’s markets, so we’re busy preparing for a full season of pop-ups, selling bundles, reopening subscriptions, and introducing new products. We’re so excited for everything 2025 has in store and can’t wait to share our progress with you.
Thank you for continuing to support our family and ranch. Here’s to brighter days, much-needed moisture, and an incredible year ahead!
Warm regards,
The West Cattle Company Team
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