Tallgrass Beef Company

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Tallgrass Beef Company
Type Limited liability company
Founded 2005
Headquarters Sedan, Kansas, USA
Key people Bill Kurtis, Founder; Allen Williams, CEO
Industry Beef
Products Ground Beef, Steaks, Sausages, Hot dogs, Jerky, Bones, Pork, Pet Food, Grass-fed beef
Website http://www.tallgrassbeef.com

Tallgrass Beef Company is a Kansas-based beef company that sells grass fed and grass finished beef. Tallgrass Beef became the first grass fed beef producer to sell steaks in Chicago in 2005 when Harry Caray’s Restaurant began selling Tallgrass Beef.[1] Its beef is sold via restaurants and grocery stores throughout the Midwest, East Coast, and Southeast, in addition to mail order.[2][3] Tallgrass Beef Company raises some of its cattle on founder Bill Kurtis's Sedan, Kansas ranch. Tallgrass also has a network of family farmers and ranchers who raise and finish grass fed cattle that fit the standards of the Tallgrass protocols. [4][5]

[edit] Beef production

Tallgrass' production process involves scientists employed by the company searching the United States for cattle whose genetics naturally causes the animal to fatten quickly and tenderly on grass.[6] Beef producers have no databank of DNA with which to compare their findings, and so Tallgrass scientists use ultrasound technology to determine the tenderness of its potential herds.[7]

The company philosophy places a greater emphasis on the quality of production than the feedlot system. In feedlot cattle operations, cattle are typically subjected to an aggressive growth hormones implant strategy in order to induce rapid growth of lean muscle. Cattle in feedlots are fed a formula feed that consists of 70% to 90% grain and are also injected with rounds of parasite treatments and fed low grade antibiotics to induce growth and negate diseases that spread in feedlots. Tallgrass’ cattle, on the other hand, are allowed to roam in open pastures without the space restrictions that feedlots impose on their cattle. Additionally, they are not implanted with any synthetic growth hormones, or fed animal by-products or antibiotics.[8] Tallgrass has a policy of not using antibiotics in any of its cattle herds. In 2001, the American Medical Association stated that it opposed the regular use of antibiotics in all levels of livestock agriculture because of scientifically verified risk assessments.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ No bull: Eateries dishing up brand-name beef., Chicago Tribune, April 27, 2006, <http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-145018615.html?refid=gg_x_02> 
  2. ^ Chicago embraces designer beef trend, International Herald Tribune, September 11, 2006, <http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/11/america/NA_GEN_US_Designer_Beef_Chicago.php> 
  3. ^ The Grass Is Greener, New York Sun, January 3, 2007, <http://www.nysun.com/article/45994> 
  4. ^ Holiday Gift Guide: Sparing the Reindeer With Help From a Mouse - New York Times
  5. ^ Chicago Life
  6. ^ National Provisioner Online
  7. ^ Tallgrass Beef Delicious. Good For You. Grass Fed Beef
  8. ^ Beef Production - Stages in Beef Production Process
  9. ^ http://www.keepantibioticsworking.com/new/resources_library.cfm?refID=36325

[edit] External links