The Intent: Saying NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER means that the very few animals that need treatment get basically wasted or cast away into the industrial river, squandering their higher attributes like some unnecessary sacrificial offering. Being a conscience connoisseur of high quality meat is to better understand the issue of antibiotics and THINK about the issues discussed below.

Our philosophy on Antibiotics....

Animals should be raised and cared for in a manner which discourages the need for any treatments, including antibiotics. For most animals this means living in their natural environment (cows on pasture), eating their most natural diet (cows eat grass), and being allowed to express their natural distinctiveness (herd, ruminate, trample, etc). Providing the best husbandry to one's animals, means that the needs for such substances as antibiotics should rarely be needed. And when needed, that the antibiotic and the animal are treated without undermining the long term viability of the medicine.

Antibiotics should be used only when absolutely necessary to prevent needless suffering. The antibiotic, when given, should be given in an appropriate dose for the particular ailment. The use should be controlled and every effort should be made to avoid any unintended exposure to the peripheral environment.

Low dosage and prolonged exposure to antibiotics, like when added to animal feed or water sources, allows bacteria (who reproduce rapidly) to adapt to the antibiotic laden environment (General exposure). This renders the antibiotic ineffective for future treatment of the evolved bacteria or super bug. This is why when utilizing an antibiotic as a tool, you want to avoid exposure that allows the bacteria to proliferate and mutate. You want an effective dose that is precisely targeted. General exposure inadvertently, un-responsibly, and disrespectfully threatens the viability of antibiotics to protect future generations.

To ensure an animal is free of antibiotic before entering the food supply, a necessary period of time must elapse for the antibiotic to be metabolized and eliminated from the animals body. After this period of time, the animal is free of any antibiotic and can be consumed without further exposure. Animals that must undergo treatment are never hurried to market. They are provided an adequate allotment of time to recover from their ailment, including their treatment of antibiotic.

At Marin Sun Farms, and on the ranches we partner with, antibiotics are used only when necessary and never in a manner that prematurely eliminates the long term viability that we depend upon. The meat from our animals is guaranteed free of any antibiotics.

Fact: In 2007, on our Family Ranches, we cared for, approximately:

                                         450 Cattle

                                         420 Calves

                                         1,500 Range Hens & Roosters

                                         5,400 Broiler Chickens

                                         150 Goats & Kids

                                         250 Sheep & Lambs

Of these over 8,000 animals we needed to utilize antibiotics less than 15 times. And the majority of these treatments were for minor bacterial infections, like an eye infection, where the animal would have otherwise lost its sight OR a leg infection, where the animal would of lost its ability to walk.

If you have any questions regarding our Antibiotic Policy please contact david@marinsunfarms.com.