Schotthofer’s Sunny Creek Farm LLC/
Sunny Creek Meats
Our Farming/Business Practices and Principles
At Schotthofer’s Sunny Creek Farm LLC and Sunny Creek Meats.com we hold to the following farming practices and principles.
Farming Practices and Principles:
1. The Land is always to be respected in the way that it is managed and maintained.
2. Water Quality and protection is of utmost importance.
3. Livestock is to be treated and handled with care, respect and diligence.
4. Mistreatment of Livestock is not tolerated.
5. Pesticides are not used on our farm.
6. Herbicides are not used on our farm.
7. Drug and Alcohol abuse is not tolerated on our farm.
8. Bio-Security is to be respected without question on our farm.
9. We maintain 7 terraces to manage the soils on our farm.
10. We have a Conservation plan in place on our farm. We have worked extensively with NRCS and continue to do so at the present time.
11. We have a CNMP for our farm.
12. We are members of the Missouri Farm Bureau.
13. We do not utilize synthetic fertilizers on our farm.
14. We do not bury garbage or maintain a dumpsite on our farm.
15. Food Safety and Food Quality are the cornerstones of our business.
16. If you are displeased or are disappointed in a product of our business, tell us about it.
17. We appreciate a “Report Card” regarding your experiences with our products or services.
18. We will not hound you for constant ratings and surveys on our products – it is most unprofessional to nag one’s customers for approval ratings. If you like doing business with us, you will share that with others, we will not compensate you rating our products or services. Giving us a report card – good or bad is your choice. We constantly strive to please our customers. Help us make our services and products the best possible.
19. We will accept your debit and credit cards for payment. We welcome Credit and Debit cards as well as Cash. Prepayment by check requires 3-4 weeks processing time – this is by the insistence of our Bankers. Bank wires are always welcome for significant sized purchases.
20. Phone/e-mail orders accepted and welcomed – most down payments on livestock purchases are conducted by phone sale.
21. We are NO longer Certified Organic. We discontinued the certification at the close of 2019. Our farm is still operated and maintained utilizing Organic practices. The certification expense adds to the final cost of the product and we do not have any Inspected Meat plants in our region that are Certified Organic, thus we cannot complete the circle for selling a Certified Organic animal.
22. We do not feed WASTE milk to our pigs – if we would not drink it then neither will the pigs.
23. We do not sell Raw Milk, as that has no 3rd party inspection on it.
24. We NEVER feed medications to our livestock.
25. We Have NEVER and WILL NEVER use any HORMONES or HORMONE IMPLANTS on our Livestock
26. We do not use any Steroid/growth promoting feed additives on our Livestock.
27. We take Food Safety seriously --- Food Safety is 1st and Food Palatability (Taste) is 2nd and price is 3rd on our rating of importance. We do not feed questionable feed products to our livestock just to save on input costs.
28. Our Farm and business is registered with the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
29. We use multiple rearing methods for our calves – typically there is not just one correct method – numerous factors are weighed in the determination of each calf and its rearing protocol or method.
30. We pen raise some calves, use Madre method on others and or calf sharing (traditional method).
31. We only feed whole milk to our calves, whether it is by direct nursing or by bottle or gang feeder distribution.
32. There are numerous health challenges that one has to manage for when “Calf Sharing” methods are utilized. Both the MaMa cow and the calf can become seriously ill in a short window of time, thus extra vigilance is required in order to fully maintain a high health standard for both Dam and offspring.
33. We do treat any ailing or sick animal properly and appropriately with medication as by guidance from a licensed Veterinarian.
34. We never have and never will use medications haphazardly. We only use them when absolutely necessary for the wellbeing of an animal.
35. We use tried and proven animal husbandry methods.
36. We no longer commercially ship milk – the Missouri Dairy Industry is no longer financially sustainable for the small farmer.
37. We fully utilize (on farm) all of the milk produced by our Jersey herd.
38. We kindly request that you Do NOT bring your pets to our farm when you visit, this violates our Bio-Security protocol and can greatly harm our livestock.
39. We do use Vaccinations on our livestock as is appropriate and necessary.
40. We do not buy and import livestock on our farm – If we introduce a new animal on our farm, it is DNA tested, Blood tested and it is quarantined for a significant period of time and is done so for a specific purpose.
41. We do not sell Livestock to or through Livestock “Sale Barns”.
42. We do sell “Family Cows” and young stock for folks who are looking for quiet tempered Jersey Cattle that are raised in a Natural, not industrial setting.
43. We have a “Closed Herd” on our farm. It has been closed since inception in 2015.
44. We do keep Bulls on our farm for Natural Breeding Purposes. Bulls are not to be played with and definitely not made into pets.
45. We do not tolerate herding our cows with dogs that chase. Border Collies are typically not appropriate for moving cattle.
46. Our cattle come to me, when I call them, they follow me, or I follow them when moving them out of a pasture or field. We do not chase our livestock with 4 wheelers, side by sides or dogs.
47. Likewise, our livestock is very curious and friendly, they are not fearful of us – fear is a learned behavior. If we have an animal that is instinctively uneasy and fearful, we do not keep it in our herd indefinitely.
48. We typically feed our livestock twice daily or more often in the case of the pigs. Slug feeding is not healthy for any livestock and it is likely to present more digestive upsets than if the livestock is fed twice daily.
49. We have never and do not ever feedlot our animals. We feed our animals on a lot, that they are free to come and go from, they are not locked into it indefinitely and fed continuously on any lot.
50. We maintain “sacrifice” pastures that are used during the Winter months and Droughts. They are primarily utilized during excessively rainy or excessively dry periods. Thus, we sacrifice the pasture grass on a small pasture, up until the livestock can be returned to a typical pasture.
51. Photography on the farm is strictly forbidden, without specific written permission of either Steve or Tammy. Because of those few folks with malicious intent, we strictly enforce this request. In many cases we can honor your request when you ask us first. We have a simple method for this purpose.
52. We NEVER will use any artificial growth promotants, such as are used on most Commercial cattle and Sheep feeding operations prior to processing. This is unnatural for the livestock and in our opinion, it is unhealthy for the consumer to eat such meat.
53. We do not advertise Grass fed only meat – some of it is excellent, and some of it is poor, tough and unpalatable. Some Grass-fed only operations fully utilize 3-5 rounds of Hormone Implants on their livestock. If you want healthy, naturally produced food, then in our opinion Hormones and Hormone implants are unacceptable and taboo. If you prefer Grass fed only, then get to know and trust your producer and ask that they be transparent with you, regarding their husbandry methods (all of them).
54. Certified organic can be wonderful and it can be horrible as well – once again know your producer and ask the important questions. Integrity and excellence are not guaranteed by any Certification. Certification only assures that certain products and practices are followed, and only if the producer is honest and truthful about everything. I have seen many agencies that have come into existence to make a guarantee to the consumer, that is only as good as the producer behind the product. Some producers uphold all standards and surpass some standards, while other producers only hold up a few and do not follow most.
55. Non-GMO is not a bad thing, however it is certainly a far cry from Certified Organic, as it typically allows ALL of the conventional agricultural production methods that are utilized in conventional grain production (synthetic Fertilizers, Herbicides, and Pesticides).
56. In today’s world, Glyphosate and Hormone Implants are in our opinion the 2 most dangerous inputs used in food production that are in common usage on a global basis.
57.KNOW YOUR PRODUCER ---- ASK THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
58. Through our transparency, we offer our customers an identity to the livestock food products that they purchase from us.
59. When you arrive at our Farm, our gates will typically be closed for Bio-security, give us a call from your cell phone and we will promptly meet you at the gates with a Hearty welcome to our Family Farm. Please make prior arrangements with us prior to your visit.
60. PRICE IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR PURCHASE.
61. We appreciate your suggestions and inputs – let us know your thoughts and concerns.
Thank you for stopping by our Website and visiting Schotthofer’s Sunny Creek Farm/Sunny Creek Meats.com.
--Steve & Tammy Schotthofer
Schotthofer’s Sunny Creek Farm LLC
SunnyCreekMeats.com
Steve & Tammy Schotthofer
2878 State Highway EE
Elkland, Missouri 65644
417-630-1456 - Steve’s Cell Phone
417-859-0101 - Office Phone
Email: SunnyCreekMeats@gmail.com
www.SunnyCreekMeats.com