BEEF CHEAT SHEET

Eye Fillet/Beef Tenderloin

Eye fillet steak is a cut from the beef tenderloin, a long cylindrical muscle that runs along the spine of the cow. It is one of the most tender and prized cuts of beef, known for its rich flavour and tender texture. The tenderloin is located in the striploin, you will also find the tenderloin as one of the muscles of the T-Bone steak.

What is Regenerative Beef?

Regenerative grazing is a method of managing livestock in a way that promotes soil health, biodiversity, and ecological resilience. Regenerative grazing practices aim to create a more sustainable and resilient ecosystem, while also improving the economic viability of farming operations.

The core principles of regenerative grazing include the following

Mimicking natural grazing patterns

Regenerative grazing aims to mimic the grazing patterns of wild grazing herbivores such as buffalo, wildebeest, bison, goats and elk. This involves keeping livestock in a single herd that mob graze moving them frequently to healthy fully recovered pastures, and allowing them to graze and trample the land in a way that mimics the natural disturbance caused by wild herbivores.

Rest and recovery

In order to promote the growth of healthy grasses and other vegetation, regenerative grazing involves giving pastures adequate time to rest and recover between grazing periods. This is generally between 30-35 days in the growing season and 60-70 days in the non-growing season. This allows for the regeneration of root systems and the buildup of soil organic matter, which in turn improves soil health and reduces erosion.

Time controlled intensive grazing

Regenerative grazing typically involves more intensive grazing than conventional methods, but for shorter periods of time.  By letting the cattle only graze the top third of each plant and not revisit it until the next rotation can help promote the growth of new plant shoots and stimulate the growth of root systems and sequestering carbon through photosynthesis. This is in contrast to more conventional methods of overgrazing which leads to plant stress and soil damage through nutrients being drawn out of the soil to aid in plant recovery.

Soil health

Regenerative grazing places a strong emphasis on soil health, as healthy soils are essential for the growth of healthy plants and the maintenance of healthy ecosystems.  Soil testing and Brix testing is paramount to figure out exactly what the soil needs in the pastures. Practices like no-till planting, cover cropping, and the use of compost and other organic fertilizers that are tailored with the nutrients that are required can help to improve soil health and fertility in a more sustainable way.

Biodiversity

Regenerative grazing promotes the growth of a diverse range of plant species, which can support a wide variety of wildlife and beneficial insects such as dung beetles earthworms. By promoting biodiversity, regenerative grazing can help to support healthy ecosystems and promote the resilience of the landscape by keeping a natural balance of key minerals and nutrients in the soil.

Eradication of chemical inputs

Regenerative grazing eradicates the use of chemical inputs such as synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. This helps to reduce the environmental impact of farming and promotes a more natural ecosystem by preserving and supplementing healthy and natural living soil biology.

Improving animal welfare

Regenerative grazing practices aim to improve animal welfare by providing animals with access to a natural diet and environment. The constant moving from paddock to paddock using low stress stock handling techniques teaches the animal to be familiar and comfortable with the pressure and release applied by the grazier. This helps to reduce anxiety and improve overall health and well-being. Regenerative graziers prioritize the welfare of their animals by ensuring they have access to ample forage, clean water, and appropriate protection from the elements when required through the provision of wind breaking tree lines around the paddocks.

Protecting water sources

Regenerative graziers take steps to protect and improve water sources on their land by fencing dams systems to improve water quality and promote the growth of wildlife and vegetation along waterways. Also promoting the preservation of water in the pastures by introducing cover crops they help act as a sponge reducing soil erosion, while increasing water retention and infiltration. 

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