Gut strengthening colostrum: What is it? Powder vs liquid? How to use it? LEARN MORE HERE.

The inside scoop on one of the meat processors

written by

Marie Reedell

posted on

January 10, 2020

Have you seen the videos exposing terrible meat processing plants? I have, and they’re pretty terrifying and nauseating. 

You know what I’m talking about. Monstrous buildings, overcrowded animals packed together in pens or crates, big conveyor belts with hanging carcasses, big machinery to do odd things like sliding chicks down a chute, and unacceptable conditions and expectations for human employees. 

So, when I visited Aaron, the farmer, a few weeks ago, I was excited and a bit terrified when he offered to take me to visit one of his meat processors - Belmont Meats. 

We were going because I had a car, and Aaron needed to pick up some of his newly processed meat for product pics.

When I got there, my first reaction was, “This is it!?” 

We pulled up to a small well-kept building set amidst acres of pasture. 

We went in around the front. There was a small office and conference area, and we said hi to the folks having a meeting. 

We walked through to the packing room. I saw where they slaughter, butcher, and process the animals. There were about five staff cleaning the butchering room after the day’s work.

The rooms were small and meticulously clean. Even the hanging beef carcasses and discard bins of odd parts were clean. And everything was organized and labeled.

So I guess I need to take a step back. Why was I so surprised by the processor? Well, mainly because it was small and personable, and I was expecting something large and industrial.

It seemed like a really nice place for animals and humans to be. It was physically cold but not mentally cold, if that makes sense. 

You see, it’s really difficult for a small farmer to find a processor to work with. 

Following the USDA guidelines for meat processing is time consuming and expensive. For this reason, most processors are typically large and wouldn’t deal with a measly farmer that sends any less than hundreds of animals at a time.

Belmont Meats has a different strategy. They value quality over quantity, and they want to work with small farmers. 

Belmont Meats treats their animals well, at least for the short time they have them.

Most animals that come are processed that day or the day after. They don’t spend weeks confined and waiting.

They’re fed a natural diet for the few hours they’re in the holding pens. Then, they walk about 50 feet up a short, safe ramp to the room where they are slaughtered.

The conditions at Belmont Meats make for happy employees.

In fact, I know one employee who travels more than two hours to work there during the week. That’s how desirable it is.

It seems laid back and methodical. Every employee does a bit of everything and works together to accomplish a common goal.

Belmont Meats uses all natural ingredients and will work with the USDA to update their special recipes. 

A few examples. They use Redmond salt, which is real and unprocessed. They are also open to recipes with NO sugar. They even allow farmers to drop off their own herbs and spices, if they’d like.

So, if you’re concerned with animal welfare, I am now 100% sure that from start to finish, our animals are treated humanely. 

Belmont Meats is the farmer’s #1 processor for beef, pork, and poultry. The only things they can’t do (yet) is hot dogs and cured products like bacon and ham. The farmer is really looking forward to the day he can work with them for ALL of his meat products. 

If you want to support the cause, check out our 100% grass-fed beef, pastured lamb & goat, pastured woodland pork, and pastured soy-free chicken.

Aaron is serious about ethical farming, and he’s serious about treating his customers with respect. This includes 100% transparency. If you ever have a question, let us know. We’ll do our absolute best to provide an honest, accurate answer ASAP.

Pastured Meat

Farming Practices

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Salt and toxic heavy metals? We swapped our salt with a cleaner one!

Salt and toxic heavy metals? We swapped our salt with a cleaner one!

Are you choosy when it comes to the salt you use? Yea, Miller's is, too. On the one hand, we want natural (not highly processed) salt packed with minerals (including metals like zinc and magnesium). On the other hand, we don't want an overload of toxic heavy metals and microplastics.  So, when Jesse from Dream Salts reached out about his pink Himalayan sea salt last year, I was skeptical. I told him that I needed to see some test results before the team could even consider switching salts. Jesse pulled through, and I'm super happy with the results. Our new pink Himalayan sea salt has half the amount of lead compared to Selina Naturally's Celtic Sea Salt. It also had no microplastics detected at a low LOQ (limit of quantification).  "Normal" table salt is highly processed.  Table salt starts as something natural - salt mined from the earth. But then, it goes through some heavy processing. This removes all impurities, including all those minerals that are beneficial for us. 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It's salt that was naturally occurring in the ocean, either today or a long time ago. There are 2 kinds of sea salt: From the ocean: This is when sea water is let to dry. The water evaporates, leaving the salt behind. Ever get out of the ocean and find your skin left with a whitish hue? That's salt that dried on your skin! Selina Naturally's Celtic Sea Salt is dried from today's Celtic Sea.From the land: This is from a salty body of water that dried up a long time ago. For example, Redmond Salt is from the ancient Sundance Sea in Utah. And, pink Himalayan salt is mined in Pakistan from mountains near the Himalayas. When salt is naturally occurring and not processed, it's packed with minerals which we need for optimal health. 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Basically, we're using sea salt for its minerals, and that comes with all kinds of metals and is in every sea salt (of course unless it's processed). We felt that, in the amount we use it, it was not harmful to anyone. Let's look at this through the lens of Mike Adams, the Health Ranger. He has a scale to rate the cleanliness of toxic metals in products. And this scale relates to the end product, not each ingredient. When it comes to salt, only a little bit is in each bite, so any level of contamination gets diluted. Selina Naturally's salt on its own rates a low B, with 489 ppb of lead (or 0.489 ppm). Our new Dream Salt also rates a B, but much closer to an A, with about half the amount of lead at 269 ppb (or 0.269 ppm).  When we have an opportunity to reduce toxins, we do it! The Actual Test Results Because you deserve to know and see everything... I'm happy to announce that we're not only selling this pink Himalayan sea salt, but we're also using it in our fresh dairy products and sausages made from this point forward. Hooray! As an FYI --- There are other foods we offer that still use Selena Naturally's Celtic sea salt. We'll be slowly working with our small scale makers to make the switch across the board. But, it will take some time! What sea salt do you choose? What's most important to you when choosing a salt? What do you think about our salt switch? I'd love to hear from you. Comment below to share your thoughts with our amazing community, or contact us to keep it private 😊 ----- Sources Sea Salt vs. Table Salt: What's the Difference?We Test Every Lot Of Celtic Sea Salt®Consumer Wellness Center Labs

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Gut strengthening colostrum: What is it? Powder vs liquid? How to use it?

Gut strengthening colostrum: What is it? Powder vs liquid? How to use it?

Colostrum is the first milk a cow produces after it gives birth. All mammals make colostrum as the "first milk". Yup, human mommies too!  Also known as "liquid gold", colostrum is a super special dairy item. It's not only important for newborn health. It also has some amazing gut healing and immune boosting properties for older mammals, too. Because of this, some people choose to take colostrum as a supplement or give it to their furry family.  But, gee, there are a bunch of colostrum options out there! And each has its own pluses and minuses and dosing recommendations. And, when it comes to raw liquid colostrum, there isn't much info out there at all.  So, I made this resource for you that answers these questions. I hope it helps you make the best choice for you when it comes to food and natural healing 🙏 Here we go! What is colostrum? Colostrum is the first liquid a mammal produces within the first 4 days after it gives birth. You can think of it like it's a super charged milk. 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But why waste those amazing healing properties? If choosing liquid colostrum, how much should I take as a supplement? First things first, if you're new to dairy, especially raw dairy, take it slow! You definitely don't want to shock your body, especially when you're trying to heal something. Take a teaspoon, and see how you feel over the next few days. Then slowly up the dose and reduce the timing until you find a regimen that works best for you. You can't OD on colostrum. On the other hand, a little bit goes a long way. Most people taking colostrum as a supplement use about 1-2 oz per day. It's like a daily shot of liquid gold. What's the difference between first milking and second/third milking colostrum? Well, it's just like it sounds.  First milking colostrum is from the first milking after a cow gives birth. It's the most potent and contains the most healing properties. Second/third milking colostrum is from the second and third milkings after a cow gives birth. 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This is because we don't know the exact day cows give birth (that's nature's decision). And probably more importantly, the calf always gets first dibs. We never know how much will be left for us (sometimes there's none). The bottom line is that you've got to get our colostrum when it's available. Is colostrum part of your life? Powder or liquid? If yes, what benefits have you seen? I'd love to hear from you. Comment on the blog to share your thoughts with our amazing community, or just click reply to keep it private 😊 ----- Main Source Bovine Colostrum: Its Constituents and Uses

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Miller's vs Angel Acres eggs. Let's compare PUFAs and the omega ratio.

Miller's vs Angel Acres eggs. Let's compare PUFAs and the omega ratio.

***This blog post is a response to our amazing customers asking soooo many questions about this. When that happens, we know we need to dive in. We never want to put down another farmer, and we love Angel Acres. But, we also want to give you all the info you need to make informed food choices. AT A GLANCE Both Miller's and Angel Acres eggs are pastured raised, vaccine and antibiotic free, and are fed a chemical-free corn & soy free feed. Super natural (and not in the alien way)!Miller's does NOT add any colorants to the feed, so the yolk color will 100% depend on what the chickens are foraging for. Angel Acres adds a small amount of marigold to their feed. Marigold is a natural colorant that can affect the yolk color, especially in larger amounts.Miller's discloses every ingredient in the chicken feed. Angel Acres doesn't publicly disclose every ingredient, but it does tell you things is does NOT contain. I bet they'd tell you more if you ask.Angel Acres' eggs have less PUFAs in their eggs. But, it's not a precise comparison because of how each farm tested and presented their data. Ours have 1.8g per 100g of egg (yolk + white). Angel Acres has 0.8g of PUFAs per 4 eggs (testing the yolks alone). Miller's eggs have a better omega 6/3 ratio than Angel Acres. Ours have a 4:1 ratio. Theirs have a 6:1 ratio.Miller's eggs have 10% linoleic acid. Angel Acres has a better ratio of 6%. Both ratios are much better than any other eggs tested, which had 16-26% linoleic acid.Angel Acres has a 8.35 PUFA %. When it comes to PUFAs, that's better than Miller's. Ours eggs have 18.37. However, both are better than any other eggs tested, which had 23.6+.Miller's has a 1.93 saturated to PUFA ratio. Angel Acres has a 4.88. When it comes to low PUFAs, the higher the better. Both beat all other eggs tested, which were 1.3 or less. ----------- Last year, we did nutritional testing on our chicken eggs and discovered they're amazingly nutritious.  They had lower PUFAs, a better omega 6/3 ratio, and more vitamins compared to the 3 other eggs we tested. We tested against the cheapest most conventional eggs in the supermarket, the best national regenerative eggs you can buy in the store, and a local competitor selling pastured corn & soy free eggs. You can read more and see the egg test results here. Ever since we released the results in December 2024, we've gotten A LOT of questions about how our eggs stack up to Angel Acres, specifically when it comes to PUFAs. After all, Angel Acres is all about low PUFAs! It's kinda their #1 goal, and I'm so happy there's an egg farmer out there focusing specifically on this. Reducing PUFAs is a nutrition trend right now. It's along the lines of eating the way our ancestors did, with no seed oils.  Cheap seed oils have inundated the food world. Corn oil, soy oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, etc. It's everywhere and in everything and can have negative health results (sometimes serious) when over-consumed. It's just one more reason that Americans, on a whole, are so sick. You can read more about PUFAs here. Reducing PUFA intake is more than choosing ingredients. What animals eat affects the PUFA content of the food they produce. It's fairly easy to reduce your PUFA intake by reading food labels and swapping out ingredients in recipes. But... when it comes to an animal-based ingredient itself, what the animals eat and how they live affect the PUFA content in the eggs, meat, and dairy. Here's where it's important to choose your farmer. So... how do Miller's chicken eggs stack up to Angel Acres' eggs? Let's dive in. Miller's and Angel Acres have a lot of natural farming practices in common. We're both ensuring your food is truly natural. It's produced with respect for the land, has the best health outcomes for our animals, and has the least toxins. ✔ Pasture Raised ✔ Vaccine Free ✔ Antibiotic Free ✔ Chemical Free ✔ Corn & Soy Free Feed This is just awesome! Although natural farmers can be considered competitors with each other, I really don't view it that way. Natural farmers are all working towards a common goal. We're part of the same movement and support each other!  The purpose of this blog post is to answer a common question we've been getting so you can make the most informed food choices. You deserve that. Miller's does NOT add any colorants to the feed, so the yolk color will depend on what the chickens are foraging for. Angel Acres adds a little marigold to their feed, so the yolk color may be a little more orange. Yolk color was actually the reason why we did our egg testing in the first place. We really wanted to find out if our light colored yolks had equal nutrition to orange colored yolks. My hypothesis was that yolk color doesn't matter, and that was proven true! In other words, we wanted to show that orange yolks don't equal pasture raised and therefore more nutrient dense anymore. It was a happy surprise to get such stellar nutritional results, too! To elaborate just a little bit, colorants are added to basically all chicken feed in the US now. They can be synthetic (like artificial dyes) and they can also be natural (like marigold or paprika). Egg yolk color is aesthetic and superficial, not an indicator of egg quality (like it was decades ago). Sure, there's a viewpoint that marigold and paprika have health benefits for birds. It's kinda like a supplement, and I get that perspective. But, in my opinion, it's not 100% necessary for optimal health. Miller's chooses to NOT add any colorants to the feed. Why? That's so we can keep a very close eye on what the chickens are foraging for and the health of the flock. We love love having that egg yolk indicator. And that's why we called our eggs "honest yolk" eggs. Miller's discloses every ingredient in the chicken feed. Angel Acres doesn't disclose every ingredient, but it does tell you things is does NOT contain.  We believe you deserve to know everything about your food. Our chicken feed contains a blend of oats, rolled wheat, peas, alfalfa hay leaves, barley, fishmeal, sesame meal, raw liquid goat whey, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics. You can read the nitty gritty feed details here. But not every farm feels the same way. Some like to keep their feed ingredients private. This is what Angel Acres is choosing to do. They publicly tell people the ingredients that are NOT in their feed... but not what's actually in it. They are so nice. I bet if you asked them they would give you more info. Angel Acres' eggs have less PUFAs in their eggs, but it's hard to say exactly how much because of how we each present our data.  Our test results were done by mixing the yolk and white together. Our results show how much of each thing is in there by weight (for example how many mg of __ per 100g of egg). We give you access to a spreadsheet with the raw data from our egg test results. This is so you can do your own analysis. Again, you deserve to know everything about your food. We know definitively that our eggs have 1.8g of PUFAs per 100g of egg. This includes the yolk plus white, not the shell. Angel Acres tested their egg yolks only. Since the yolk contains nearly all the fat, it should be sufficient when looking at PUFAs. This is why their results have an amount "per 4 eggs" stat. Angel Acres says their eggs have 0.8g of PUFAs per 4 eggs. So how do we compare? If we estimate that an egg is about 50g. That means that our eggs have 3.6g of PUFAs per 4 eggs, higher than the 0.8g in Angel Acres' eggs.  But again, because of the differences in testing, I'm not 100% sure if this is an accurate comparison. What I do know is that, among all the eggs we tested and all the eggs Angel Acres tested, both companies had lower PUFAs compared to any other eggs. Miller's eggs have a better omega 6/3 ratio than Angel Acres. Our eggs have a 4:1 omega 6/3 ratio. Angel Acres' eggs have a 6:1 ratio. For some context, the ideal ratio humans should be eating is a 1:1-4:1 ratio. So, Miller's eggs have a better PUFA balance compared to Angel Acres. Which is more important? The ratio or the total PUFAs? Only you can make that choice for yourself. Miller's eggs have 10% linoleic acid. Angel Acres has a slightly better ratio of 6%. This is the amount of linoleic acid divided by the total of all fatty acids. The lower the percent, the better. Both brands have much better percents compared to all the eggs tested, which ranged from 16-26%.  Angel Acres has a 8.35 total PUFA %. Miller's has a 18.37 total PUFA %. This is the total PUFAs divided by the total fat. When it comes to PUFA intake, the lower the ratio the better. All other eggs tested had 23.6+. Miller's has a 1.93 saturated to PUFA ratio. Angel Acres has a 4.88. This is the total saturated fat divided by the amount of PUFAs. If you're looking for the lowest PUFAs possible, the higher the number the better. Both companies had all other eggs tested, which were 1.3 or less. I think the bottom line is that your egg choice depends on your priorities. If eliminating as many PUFAs as possible is your #1 goal, then Angel Acres has us beat. They're the best low PUFA eggs I know of. That's their jam. But, if you're looking for balanced fat intake and max public transparency, Miller's is the way to go. What do you think? Are you on the low PUFA bandwagon? Why or why not? Are there any changes you'd like to see with Miller's eggs? I'd love to hear from you. Comment below to share your thoughts with our amazing community, or contact us to keep it private 😊 ----- Sources: Low PUFA Corn and Soy Free EggsFinally, egg test results are in! Guess what? Yolk color does not matter.

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OUR MISSION is to be an amazing and reliable source for farm direct, nutrient dense food.

OUR VISION is to end sickness by enhancing health, nutrition, and happiness.

OUR PURPOSE is to inspire a generation of healthy children and reduce healthcare costs.


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 Contact us. Send a note to hello@millersbiofarm.com. Call us at (717) 786-7895.

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