The Guernsey cow produces A2A2 milk high in butterfat & beta-carotene. Guernsey’s don’t produce as much as commercial breeds, but more than enough for the average family.
The Good & Able Farmstead family enjoys the creamy flavor and health benefits from drinking raw milk. Cultured butter is one of our favorite products to make. Our Guernsey, Josephine, is our pride and joy. I think she knows that she’s our favorite, future milk cow.
The Red Wattle pig is a docile breed native to Texas. Purebreds are more difficult to find, so we have decided to maintain our own set of breeders. This breed is not as popular with most pork producers due to slower growth, but…
We raise purebred Red Wattle pigs that produce the most flavorful, lean pork we have ever eaten. It’s NOT the “other white meat” you buy in the grocery store. It is RED. Pork is available directly from Good & Able Farmstead year-round.
The Bourbon Red turkey like other heritage breeds is known to have flavorful meat. The toms are very social and are able to breed naturally. Turkeys are seasonal breeders, so our supply will be seasonal as well.
We may have young poults and hatching eggs available throughout the summer months. Thanksgiving turkeys will be available in November; reservations start in the spring.
Tunis sheep are considered a dual-purpose breed, but could be triple-purpose. Prized for their wool and meat, they can also be used for dairy. The meat is tender and mild; touted by Thomas Jefferson as being “…the ‘most delicious’ lamb he had ever tasted”. (Monticello.org) If you haven’t liked lamb in the past, Tunis meat will be worth trying.
Tunis produce a medium wool that is a lovely cream color. Wool can be used in numerous ways: clothing, bedding, insulation, as a slow-release fertilizer, crafts, etc. Wool is naturally antibacterial & antimicrobial, so it’s perfect for things like felted soaps. It won’t mildew or mold in the shower. We’re excited to explore the many uses of wool, including the lanolin that can be extracted from it. Lanolin is an oily substance excreted by the sheep’s sebaceous glands. It is commonly used in skincare products for deep moisturizing. Good & Able Farmstead does NOT pour chemicals on our sheep, so the lanolin from our sheep’s wool will be free from chemical residues and safe to use.
Even though they are a wool sheep, Tunis do very well in our East Texas climate & are more parasite-resistant than most breeds. Good & Able Farmstead will have breeding stock, meat, wool, & wool products available seasonally as we expand our flock.
Heritage Breed Cattle
The American Milking Devon (AMD) is listed as “critical” by the livestock conservancy. Brought to America by the Pilgrims, this triple-purpose breed is used for milk, meat, and as oxen. They do not produce as much as the Jersey, but the milk is comparable to it.
Good & Able Farmstead has fallen in love with this breed. Our Rosie’s personality embodies our family’s self-proclaimed attributes of grit & sass all rolled into one beautiful package. We hope to acquire a small herd of American Milking Devon’s in the future. It’s an amazing breed.