Local Albertan Beef, Quality in Sustainability & Animal Welfare
By: Brendan Klatt
The Biggs family of TK Ranch from the Northern Fescue Grasslands of Central Alberta.
“Eating is an agricultural act.”
We make it a priority to ensure the values of sustainability & animal welfare are upheld in our supply chain - particularly with locally sourced Albertan beef!
One of the best ways we can do this is to source from farms that are organic and SPCA certified. Both are third-party accredited and have strict animal welfare standards. SPCA goes above and beyond the organic welfare requirements so ideally we can see both on our products.
For beef, we promote free-range and grass-fed. Our province is mostly prairie and suited for ruminants to roam free. Our ecosystems are naturally supported by cows because in the past large populations of bison were a big part of them. Farms like TK Ranch support one of the few fully wild prairie pastures that their cows graze on. One of the easiest ways to support sustainability and animal welfare in our supply chain is alluded to above- keeping the supply chain short and working directly with the farmers.
The Doerksen family of Gemstone Grass Fed Beef from Gem, Alberta.
The Gemstone Grass Fed Beef cattle.
Ron and Sheila Hamilton of Sunworks Farm from Armena, Alberta.
A quote that carries on through our business is of course - from my dad: “I [We] got into this because I [We] believe good organic food makes a difference in people’s lives.” While we might differ in terms of our dietary lifestyle (my father is vegan) I’d like to think the same reasoning carries through from animals to plant-based food. To me, the best type of organic food that our province specializes in is Albertan beef.
Our province naturally supports beef production because as a prairie ecosystem, ruminants are naturally a part of it. Ideally, we would all be eating bison but the cost is our main barrier. Bison are so suited to our environment (as they’ve inhabited Alberta for thousands of years) that they require minimal medical support or even help with birthing calves. I once talked to a local bison farmer who marveled at how one of his herd gave birth in the middle of winter. The birth took place overnight with no human assistance and it was negative 20 celsius! The next day, the farmer found the calf alive and well.
Bison grazing in the Alberta wilderness.
The TK Ranch beef cattle.
A close second is beef cattle. Ruminants help grasslands by providing fertilizer, aerating the soil with their hooves and helping seeds take root. Some sources claim that ruminants are the sole reason grasslands exist and are not deserts! These areas are not able to sustain trees because of low rainfall or harsh conditions, which is why they don't make great farmland either. Since Alberta naturally offers the perfect conditions for ruminants like beef cattle, we can often provide higher quality beef for much cheaper than imports. Alberta even offers wagyu beef, highland and longhorn cow breeds, showing that we can raise and sustain a global variety, right here at home!
From a freshness perspective, you don't want meat being transported long distances as it increases the time meat can spoil. Additionally, travelling long distances in refrigerated trucks harms the environment, impacts fuel prices and affects labour costs culminating in greater risk to the entire supply chain. For example, recently the mountain pass through BC was closed for a week or more due to flooding - this caused hundreds of products in our stores, in particular, fresh goods - to run out of stock. We resolved to source more locally within Alberta to prevent this reliance on a single supply chain from BC. Last but certainly not least, supporting local farmers puts money back in the hands of Albertans, not just the families that own the farms but the butchers that process the meat and the transport companies that deliver to your local store.
The Van O’s family of Rockridge Dairy providing cow’s milk from Wetaskiwin, Alberta.
Organic Jersey cows from Rockridge Dairy.
The Mans family of Vital Greens Farm hard at work portioning dairy products by hand.
As with beef cattle, dairy cattle share many of the same benefits of Alberta’s natural environment. The major difference of course are the cow breeds, their dietary habits and the fact that dairy cattle are cultivated to produce all types of dairy products including milk, butter, cream, yogurts and cheese. Perhaps I’ll save discussing Alberta’s dairy industry in another blog but the main takeaway is - Alberta has plenty to offer especially through organic, locally sourced, grass-fed beef and dairy goods!
You can find fresh & frozen deliveries of beef available at all our Amaranth stores. Meat sourcing may vary based on location, inquire with in-store staff for more information.