by Kim McElroy, Owner, Broken Horn D Ranch
Broken Horn D Ranch is in Prescott, Arizona, where Dave Pawel and Kim McElroy raise Corriente cattle and produce 100-percent grass-fed, gourmet Criollo beef on 4,200-plus acres.
All the beef comes from animals born and raised on the ranch. They spend their days in pastures grazing on native grasses and irrigated pastures.
The cattle make great use of rangeland, turning the cellulose in the plants that humans cannot digest into a protein that we can digest. After calves are weaned at 8 months, they spend the next year and a half growing to market weight.
All the cattle are purebred Corriente, a breed of Criollo cattle, and that assures the beef customer of a consistent end-product every time. Cattle are handled quietly from horseback and are processed locally at Perkinsville Processing in Chino Valley, an ADA inspected slaughter facility.
Criollo beef comes from cattle of Spanish origin. These cattle are especially well adapted to the hot, arid Arizona climate. They are vigorous breeders and are known for their ability to “utilize the country,” as well as all available forage areas.
Criollo cattle are smaller animals than the traditional English beef breeds and are typically slaughtered at 800 pounds. Their muscle fibers are fine, like buffalo or elk, making the meat tender and incredibly flavorful.
In an Igenity Beef benchmark comparison, Criollo beef outscored Angus and Kobe in tenderness. As grass fed, the beef is not only good, but good for you!
Grass-fed beef is higher in protein, lower in fat and cholesterol than grain-finished beef. Grass-fed beef also cooks 30 percent faster than its grain-finished counterpart.
All Broken Horn D Ranch Criollo beef meets the USDA standards for grass fed, no hormones, no antibiotics and no animal byproducts, ever, for the life of the animal, as independently verified by TechniTrack, LLC.
BHD Ranch beef is also certified all natural and age and source. Additionally, Kim is a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certified Producer, further verifying the ranch operates by the highest industry standards for humane handling and care of the cattle.
Dave and Kim are passionate about their cattle and horses and about being good stewards of the land. They feel truly blessed to be able to live their dream while providing friends and neighbors a healthy and delicious foodstuff.
A new product offering in 2017 was Brewers Mash/Grass Fed Criollo Beef. Brewer’s mash is the spent barley and hops from the brewing of beer. It is a great source of protein, total digestible nutrients, minerals and vitamins. It is metabolized by cattle like forage and does not have the negative effects on the rumen, or first stomach of the cattle, like uncooked grain has.
The BHD Ranch uses the spent brewer’s mash from Prescott Brewing Company to supplement the pasture diet of some of their cattle. The meat from these animals is a healthy alternative to grain-finished beef, with a milder flavor profile than grass fed.
As members of Local First Arizona, the Broken Horn D Ranch believes in buying local first and supports many other local businesses for its business purchases.
For every $100 spent at a local business, $70 stays in the local economy, as opposed to only $43 nonlocal purchases.
Broken Horn D Ranch Gourmet Criollo Beef is available in individual cuts such as steaks, roasts, ground beef, organ meats, bones and pet food.
Purchases can be made at the Prescott Farmers Market every Saturday.
The winter market is at Prescott High School, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Prescott Summer Farmers Market is at Yavapai College, 7:30 a.m. to noon. The Chino Valley Summer Farmers Market is on Thursday, 3 to 6 p.m. at Olsen’s Grain. Whole and half animals are available for custom processing.
Contact the ranch at 928-708-9385 or BHDRanch.com.
