Cows and Pigs at Venetucci Farm = Healthy Soil and Good Meat
At Venetucci Farm we believe that a healthy farm ecosystem means a diverse population of plants and animals. Our farm family consists of plants, wildlife, fowl, and livestock, including heritage Tamworth hogs. We believe in raising both vegetables and animals in a way that respects and restores natural systems, attempting to work with nature rather than against her.
This means farrowing and raising our Tamworth pigs on pasture, where they have access to fresh air, sunlight, and plenty of space for exercise, and doing so without the use of hormones or unnecessary medication.
Tamworths, known for their lean meat and tasty bacon, are a hardy breed well suited for pasturing year round. Our hogs are working hogs. In the late spring they are put out on new fields of oats, barley, or triticale, where they happily graze, root, run and play. In the fall they are moved to harvested pumpkin, potato or corn fields, where they continue to root and play, helping till and fertilize as they go, reducing weeds and improving soil fertility – the natural way.
In addition to what they find in the fields and underground, our hogs are fed barley, milo, and minerals, along with “too ripe for sale” produce from the garden. Our hogs are processed without nitrates in a small, family-owned, USDA certified processing facility in Fowler, CO.
*a healthy environment
*humane treatment of animals
*healthy and good tasting food
*supporting local farms
MEAT SALES AND PRICING
Venetucci Pork can be purchased by the individual cut or in bulk quantities (half or whole pig).
Give us a call for pricing on individual cuts and to place your order at 391-8102.
Whole/Half Hog: Purchase Price + Processing Fees
Half: $3.00/# hanging weight plus processing.
Whole: $2.90/# hanging weight plus processing fees
Hanging weight is typically around 175 pounds, which yields approximately 140 pounds retail cuts (weights are approximations). Final price cannot be determined until animal is hanging.
Processing fees include a $50 slaughter fee plus 65 cents per pound processing and packaging. The processing will be slightly higher if you choose boneless cuts and/or links. If you buy a whole hog, you can decide how it is processed. You do not have as much choice regarding cuts when you buy a half.
*All processing fees subject to change.
A $100 deposit is required for all bulk pig orders.
Venetucci Grass Finished Beef
A healthy farm is a diversified farm, mirroring the natural environment as much as possible with a combination of plants and animals. Animals need plants and plants need animals. Both play a vital role in maintaining healthy soil, the foundation of the farm ecosystem.
Towards the goal of restoring the Venetucci Farm to health, we are working to establish healthy pastures, which improve soil fertility, as well as sequester carbon. Each spring we purchase cattle from Mike Callicrate of Ranch Food Direct to assist in this process. The hormone, antibiotic-free cattle, raised on Callicrate’s ranch in St. Francis, Kansas, spend the last six months of their lives helping us develop healthy pastures with their manure, urine, and hoof impact through rotational grazing. The cows are moved at least once a day to fresh pasture to ensure consistent impact and prevent overgrazing. The cows currently grazing on Venetucci pasture are Angus.
Over the six months on Venetucci Farm, on a diet of grass/alfalfa/legume mix, we hope to see an average weight gain of 350 lbs. per cow. In October they will be taken to butcher and processed at the Ranch Food Direct meat processing facility in Colorado Springs. The feedback from customers who purchased cows last season has been very positive.
Our preference is to pre-sell the cows as quarters, halves or wholes. The cost for bulk purchase requires approximately 4 cu ft freezer space. The exact cost depends on the weight of the cow. (CSA members receive a 10% discount on meat purchases.)
COW PRICING
Quarter is $3.85/# hanging weight
Half is $3.75/# hanging weight
Whole is $3.65/# hanging weight
Hanging weight averages 600 pounds, which yields about 360 pounds retail cuts (weights are approximations). Final price cannot be determined until animal is hanging.
Processing is included in the price of the cow, only additional cost is box fee of $2 per box. A quarter cow is packaged in 3 boxes and fills approximately 4 cubic feet of freezer space.
If you purchase a whole cow, you can determine how you want to cow processed, but you will pay more for boneless cuts (New York Strips, Filet Mignon, etc.)
Please give us a call to place your beef or pork order at 719-391-8102.
