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Green Grass, Grazing Pigs & Baby Lambs

written by

Liz Cunningham

posted on

April 14, 2025

By the middle of April, things are looking good around here.

There's green grass everywhere, especially on the range. Cows are fat, baby calves are slick and healthy, and everything looks good. 

Did you know we turn all our cows out on the range BEFORE they calve? We do not watch our cows or heifers (first-time moms) calve. It's their job to go out and "get the job done." So in May, when we gather the range, there are baby calves EVERYWHERE!

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On the home place, the grass is about 4-6 inches tall and putting some serious weight on our cattle, which will be harvested in the next 1-3 months. At this time of year, our cattle can gain 2-3 lbs of weight PER DAY! That's some serious weight gain and delicious-tasting beef!

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Speaking of some serious weight gain, our pastured pigs are doing the same. We just harvested the first batch of pigs a few weeks ago, and they were PIGGY FAT. Pigs thrive in early spring due to cooler weather, which helps them gain weight. They crave fresh green grass in the springtime, going grazing for the new grass shoots. Although they mainly consume grains, they value the green grass to balance their diet.

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And finally, it's my favorite season of all... Lambing season. Over 50% of our sheep have had their lambs in the last week. Sheep typically lamb closely together, and quickly fill a pasture with bouncing baby lambs! It is always incredible to watch this frail baby lamb be born, struggle to get up to get their first drink of milk, and then, less than 24 hours later, bounce around and chase other lambs.

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We love the newness of spring with green grass, happily grazing pigs, and baby lambs.

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Halter Collars

Imagine the American West before fences. Endless grasslands stretched to the horizon, wide open and free. Livestock moved with the rhythm of the land, guided by skilled herders who understood how to work with nature—not against it. There were no steel posts, no wires, no grids—just animals, people, and a shared understanding of movement and timing. This was the original way of livestock management: intentional, responsive, and deeply in tune with the land. Fences, as we know them, are a relatively modern invention—useful, yes, but they’ve also made us more stationary and more separated from that old rhythm. At Cunningham Pastured Meats, we’ve found a way to return to those roots—while stepping into the future. We're excited to announce that we’re implementing virtual fencing through a company called Halter. Using GPS-enabled collars and gentle cues, Halter allows us to move animals exactly where we want them—no wire, no posts, no daily labor of setting up temporary fencing. Instead, we can offer fresh pasture every single day, ensuring the herd always has access to the cleanest, most nutrient-rich feed available. This also means animals no longer backtrack over soiled ground, which improves animal health, grazing efficiency, and soil vitality. What once took hours of manual fencing can now be done with a tap of a screen—giving us more time to focus on care, stewardship, and improving the land. ​See video of us putting collars on our cattle here<<<< Here’s what this means for you: Fresher feed = healthier animals and better quality meat.Daily movement mimics natural grazing, regenerating the land.Less stress, better welfare for the animals.Greater flexibility to adapt to weather, pasture conditions, and herd needs. This is a new chapter for us, and we’re excited to see where it leads. We’ll be learning as we go—and we’ll keep you updated as this journey with virtual fencing unfolds.

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