>
The Platt family has raised cattle in Florida for six generations. The family is originally from North Carolina and moved to Melbourne, Florida, in the 1870s. The family raised cattle before the sprawling city landscape. The family decided to move to Madison, Florida, around 2004. The family was interested in Madison because the population growth in Brevard County was unsuitable for a cattle ranch. Additionally, South Florida has no colder climates to grow the necessary forages during the wintertime. However, Melbourne had advantages such as free-flowing wells and abundant water.
Once in Madison, the Platt family began to prepare the property for cattle. This included building fences, running water lines, installing water troughs, and drilling wells. The property was first used for hunting animals like ducks and deer, leaving the landscape untouched by pesticides and commercial fertilizers. The family began experimenting with planting different grass and forages and realized they could raise cattle only on grasses and forages by supplementing them with hay. However, ranchers and researchers said they would have to supplement cows with feed, cottonseed, and soy hull pellets since these were acceptable by a conventional grass-fed label.
The family began to submit their hay samples to the Southeastern Hay Contest (2006). They won 1st place in the Grass Baleage category with an RFQ (Relative Forage Quality) of 128 and in the Legume Baleage category with an RFQ value of 215.
Shortly after, the Platts began doing some research for a grass-fed beef company. The topic of research was how to finish cattle on grasses and forages. They took four steers and separated them from the rest of the herd. The cattle only got grass and forages and were supplemented with hay and baleage when needed. The results were that the cattle still gained fat, and the meat had a 1:1 ratio of omega 3s and 6s (fatty acids). The Platts had now had enough proof to raise cattle on only grass and forage.
They separated from the company towards the end of the research process. A drought occurred, and the company wanted to turn off the water to the cows. Harold (Hotshot) Platt disagreed and wanted to pursue his own company, where he had control of the cattle. The family went to the USDA to receive an All Grass (Forage) Fed Beef label. However, the USDA wanted them to have a regular grass-fed label. The family was now raising cattle on 100% grass and forages and insisted they have the new label to set them apart from competitors. They received the label, and thus, Deep Roots Meat was created in 2009.
Products
All Grass (Forage) Fed Beef
Our Angus influenced cattle are bred, born and raised on our ranch. They only eat HIGH QUALITY grasses, forages and hay that we grow and bale. We only use ORGANIC fertilizers such as fish emulsions and seaweed. Our cattle are ROTATIONALLY grazed on our pastures. Our cattle are NOT fed any grain or animal by-products. We do NOT supplement our cattle with GMO’s. Our cattle are NEVER given antibiotics, hormones, or mRNA vaccines. We have DUNG Beetles and EARTHWORMS- signifying healthy Soil! We use LOW STRESS handling techniques that make for HAPPY COWS. These practices have been found to assure the healthiest beef you can eat. We are delighted to say that you can eat our Ground Beef without ANY seasonings…NOT even salt or pepper! We also offer half or whole custom harvest of our cattle. Processed and Packaged the way you prefer!
Nutrient-Dense Pork
Our pigs are a mixed breed including Berkshire, Duroc, Spotted, and Gloucestershire Old Spots Swine. Our pigs are ROTATIONALLY grazed on our pastures and NEVER confined in pens. Our pigs are fed a SOY-FREE ration made specifically for the needs of the pastured pigs at Deep Roots Meat. Our pigs are NEVER given antibiotics, hormones, or mRNA vaccines. We do NOT use hog rings to allow our pigs to ROOT UP the ground to find tubers, grubs, acorns, and earthworms. We use LOW-STRESS handling techniques that make for HAPPY PIGS. *Pigs are a monogastric (one stomach) animal which means they need to be supplemented with feed to get all their necessary nutrients. We also offer half or whole custom harvest of our pigs. Processed and Packaged the way you prefer!
Chicken & Farm Fresh Eggs
Our layer chickens are Rhode Island Red and Black Australorp, while our meat birds are Cornish Cross Broilers. Our chickens are raised on PASTURED LAND, allowing them to eat grasses and forages. The chickens are kept in Chicken Tractors and Egg Mobiles during the night to protect them from predators and RELEASED during the day to FREE RANGE. The Chicken Tractors and Egg Mobiles are MOVED daily to ensure the chickens have access to fresh pasture land and a clean environment. Our chickens are fed a SOY-FREE ration made specifically for the needs of the pastured chickens at Deep Roots Meat. Our FREE RANGE chickens roam the pastures scratch up grubs, earthworms, insects, GRASSES, and FORAGES. Our chickens are NEVER given antibiotics, hormones, or mRNA vaccines. We use LOW-STRESS handling techniques that make for HAPPY CHICKENS.
Pastured Raised Lamb
Our Katahdin-influenced lambs are bred, born, and raised on our ranch. They only eat HIGH-QUALITY grasses, forages, and hay that we grow and bale. Our sheep are ROTATIONALLY grazed on our pastures. Our sheep are NOT fed any grain or animal by-products. We do NOT supplement our lamb with GMOs. Our sheep are NEVER given antibiotics, hormones, or mRNA vaccines. We use LOW-STRESS handling techniques that make for HAPPY LAMBS.
Farming Practices
Rotational Grazing
Rotational grazing is defined as the practice of frequently moving livestock through pastures to allow for the rest and regrowth of grasses and forages. Rotational grazing is a fantastic way to sequester carbon from the environment. Grass and forages absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, allowing them to build up more plant matter, specifically their roots. Once the grasses and forages reach a desired height, the cattle are released into the pasture to graze. The cattle eat down the grasses and forages until they get down to a re-growable height. At the shorter height, the ends of the roots begin to die off because there is not enough plant matter to justify keeping the roots. The ground absorbs the dying root ends, absorbing the carbon absorbed by the plants. The grasses and forages will grow back, and the cycle continues.
No-Tillage Planting
No-tillage planting is the agricultural technique of planting grasses and forages without disturbing the soil. The no-till planters create a narrow furrow in the shape of a V with enough space to plant the seeds. The furrow is closed, and the seed is ready to grow. The seed can now utilize all of the organic matter that would have been lost in conventional tillage. In conventional tillage, the soil would have been overturned, exposing the organic matter to the atmosphere, which results in the organic matter oxidizing into carbon dioxide.
No-tillage planting also reduces erosion in the field. Existing grasses and forages are maintained on the soil surface, allowing the soil structure to remain intact, which helps resist wind and water erosion. Additionally, no-tillage planting promotes a healthier soil. The plant residue will decompose at a natural rate. The number of microorganisms will increase, which means more organic matter will be converted into usable forms of nitrogen and phosphorus for the grasses and forages.
Dung Beetles
Dung beetles are beneficial beetles to have on the ranch. They feed on manure and tunnel into the ground to make their home. Additionally, they aerate the soil with their tunneling. The beetles take the manure from the surface and bring it underground to feed themselves and their young. At the same time, the beetles bury the nitrogen-filled manure into the ground. The soil health improves, allowing the soil to hold more water and nutrients.
Livestock manure is the breeding ground for pests and parasites. For example, two pests of cattle, horn flies (Haematobia irritans) and face flies (Musca autumnalis), lay their eggs in the manure. A single manure pat can generate 60-80 hornfly adults. However, this number can be reduced by dung beetles feeding on the manure and laying their eggs in it. In the manure, the newly hatched dung beetles will compete with the fly larvae for food, physically damage the flies’ eggs, and eat the fly larvae. Fly populations have been shown to decrease significantly in areas with dung beetle activity. On a pasture-management level, dung pat removal is beneficial for forage availability. Most ruminants will not graze closely to their own species’ manure pats. Research has shown that the forage is palatable but avoided because of the dung pile. Consequently, cattle manure deposits can make 5% to 10% of grasses and forages unavailable per acre per year. By entirely and quickly removing the manure, dung beetles can significantly enhance grazing efficiency.
Roller Chopping
Roller Chopping has several benefits to the ranch. The ones used on the ranch are called Chopper Blades. This type of chopper is designed specifically for weed and brush control. The tractor pulls the chopper units over the soil. The choppers do not overturn the soil but penetrate the soil surface. The penetration reduces water run-off and helps maintain the soil’s water-holding capacity. The penetration also allows air, water, and organic matter to enter deeper into the soil. The chopping process allows our grasses and forages to establish deeper root beds, giving us a hearty and stable foliage for our livestock.
Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers supply our grasses and forages with the appropriate nutrients. Microorganisms break down nutrients, releasing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which the plants can use. Additionally, the broken-down fertilizers provide structure to the soil and increase the soil’s water-holding capacity. Finally, the nutrients from organic fertilizers are supplied more slowly than conventional fertilizers. This helps lower the risk of burning the roots and leaching to the underground aquifers.
Leave a Reply