Raising cattle, hogs, and chickens on the open range of South Central Texas takes more time than the industrialized feedlot model, but the results speak for themselves. While mass-produced beef companies rely on cramped environments and cheap by-products, Augustus Ranch is committed to a different path. Based near the town of Shiner, Texas, our program is built on the belief that livestock should live outdoors, moving across fresh forage in a way that respects both the animal and the land.
As consumers have become more aware of the conditions in the livestock industry, more and more folks are interested in buying local, pasture-finished, all-natural beef. But what does “all-natural” really mean?
Pinning the Tail on “All Natural”
"Natural" is a loose term. The USDA only requires that "natural" beef be minimally processed with no artificial ingredients. At Augustus Ranch, we go much further. When we say our Texas beef is pasture-finished, we mean our cattle spend their entire lives on the land. They aren't just "grass-fed" and then sent to a feedlot for the final months; they are finished right here on the ranch with a combination of fresh forage and a custom, locally milled ration of barley and flax. This ensures the meat is consistently delicious, nutrient-dense, and reflects the true flavor of our South Central Texas soil.
Our Texas beef is locally raised, locally butchered, and shipped directly to your table. We never give our livestock antibiotics or hormones—ever–because they don't need them. In rare cases where animals get sick and need medicine, we’ll follow the local vet’s advice to help the animal get better and remove it from our meat program. Often it will end up in our own freezer.
That’s how you know the pasture-finished Texas beef on your plate is guaranteed all-natural, every time.
When You Support Local Farmers, You Make Quality Possible
It’s not easy to run a small, local, family-owned ranch in the meat business. Most meat is controlled by four large companies with enormous, industrialized cattle-rearing and butchering systems. This, along with importing beef from who-knows-where and labeling it "Product of the USA", helps Big Beef drive down the costs of mass-produced meat, but it leaves quality by the wayside. Did you know a package of ground beef you can buy at the store might contain parts from over 100 cows?
Family-run Texas beef ranches like Augustus Ranch appreciate your loyalty and patronage because it makes true quality possible. And that relationship is worth it. Using local farms and ranches for meat will offer you nutrition and flavor that can’t be matched by mass-produced, conventional beef.
Local producers know the importance of responsible environmental stewardship. This isn't just where we work–it's a legacy we are protecting. That's why Augustus Ranch uses rotational grazing and regenerative ranching practices to enhance the land. Whether it's cattle, hogs, or chickens, our philosophy remains the same. We take good care of the land and animals because, like our customers, we want something better than status quo.
When you support local farmers and ranchers, you vote with your dollar—for quality, health, and the environment. Buy pasture-finished, all-natural Texas beef raised near Shiner, Texas to reward your stomach and the local producers who keep the legacy of traditional, ranch-raised livestock alive and kicking.
