Grass finished beef pasture walk

On Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m. the Southwest Wisconsin Grazing Network will hold a pasture walk at Hillside Pastures Farm.

The farm is located at 6511 Hillside School Rd., Spring Green, roughly across from Taliesen on the Iowa County side of the Wisconsin River.

Consumer demand for grass finished beef continues to increase and outpace the supply. While currently only representing four percent of total beef consumption in the United States, research suggests that this market may grow to 25 percent of the beef consumed.

Southwest Wisconsin currently has 3-4 competing businesses sourcing cattle, each paying in the $2.35-2.45 on a carcass basis.

Hillside Pastures has been utilizing Red Devon cattle from Lakota Farm in Virginia and offspring from the Rotokawa herd from New Zealand, they have also embarked on a cross-breeding project with Red Angus and South Devon cattle.

Pastures and fencing have been established over the past several years and this season's improvement is a water system to each paddock.

After the pasture walk, producers will have an opportunity to do some chute-side evaluations of live cattle. Mitch Schaefer, UW-Madison graduate student in Animal Science, will be conducting some ultrasound testing of livestock to help evaluate their carcass potential.

For more information contact Gene Schriefer, Iowa County extension ag agent, at 608-930-9850.