Thomas H. Bartholomew, M.D. and Lauren Samples Bartholomew have been running a cow/calf operation in Lindenau, Texas for about six years now. Starting with six F-1 Brahma/Hereford heifers, named after each of Lauren's nieces and nephews, we have managed to raise healthy calves year after year.

One of our favorite results of this endeavor is enjoying delicious, tender, healthy, grass-fed beef. All of our calves are one-half Angus which adds to the flavoring and tenderness of this beef.

Our least favorite aspect of this endeavor is selling our calves to the industrial food market, where they end up spending up to half of their lives in a feedlot, being fed corn and other foods not good for ruminants, prophylactic antibiotics and usually growth hormones. These calves (now steers or heifers) are then processed en mass and sold to the industrial food chain. We believe this process contributes to pollution of our environment due to the tons of manure in confined quarters, as well as producing beef that falls far short in flavor and health benefits.

We know that beef from corn-fed animals is less healthy than beef from grass-fed (or pastured) animals. Grass-fed beef is naturally leaner, has more Omega 3 fatty acids and has a better ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids.
http://www.eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm

In addition, we run very few cow/calves per acre, practice rotational grazing and utilize the waste products from our animals to re-create the fertility of our pastures.

The miracle of beef is that these noble animals can take grass, unfit for human consumption and grown through natural solar energy, and turn it into much-needed protein, beneficial fatty acids, vitamins and nutrients for us and for our families.

Tom is a fellowship-trained Pediatric Urologist, practicing medicine in San Antonio, Texas for over 20 years. He has become more and more enthusiastic about nutrition-based health since he has begun raising cattle.

Lauren is living out her dreams of living in the country and raising food for her family. She also keeps laying hens, three bee hives and a modest vegetable garden. Lauren has been enthusiastic about nutrition-based health since first reading Let's Have Healthy Children by Adelle Davis over 30 years ago.

Two books that we have enjoyed in recent years are Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser and Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.