Farm Animals


2015-09-23-021Animals found on the farm include chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, sheep, pigs, cows, horses, cats, bees, and Glory – the border collie.

The ideal biodynamic farm should strive to be home to five primary farm animals: cows, sheep, chickens, horses, and pigs. Each of these amazing creatures make unique and vital contributions to the balance and health of the farm in terms of the way that they eat from the land, the nourishing of the soil from their manure, pest control, weed control, aeration of soil, and much more.

The Bees also make so many special contributions to their surroundings.  Perhaps one of the more noticeable benefits of keeping bees on the farm is the increase in produce yields due to their pollinating as they gather nectar and pollen.

 

Humane treatment dictates that the animals are able to live as closely as possible to their natural rhythms and instincts in a stress-free environment with the highest quality food we can offer. All the animals are pastured or free-roaming. We wouldn’t dream of maiming an animal for convenience of production. Our cows have horns and tails, our sheep and pigs have tails, our chickens have beaks.  All of the animals enjoy the calming influence associated with the companionship of their own kind. This is particularly important to raising stress-free herd animals. The young of all farm animal remain with their mothers until natural weaning occurs, starting their lives stress-free and with the best nutrition that nature intended.  Sometimes different farm animals will intermix! The cats have been seen playing with the horses and snuggling with the lambs. Chicks and bunnies are also quite comfortable together.