Pure Grass Beef

Pure Grass Beef, run by Kathryn Engel, raises shorthorn cattle and shorthorn crossbreeds on the shale ridge between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in upstate New York, roughly an hour's drive from Ithaca.

The operation focuses on recovering old Scotch cattle genetics suited to grass finishing, crossing shorthorn with Angus and Galloway to produce animals selected for early maturity, marbling, and hardiness. The program's core philosophy holds that breeding for genetic adaptation to a grass forage diet matters more than intensive grazing management. Cattle graze open pastures through the growing season and overwinter outside with access to wooded shelter, subsisting on grass hay and minerals through the cold months.

Farming at 1,500 feet on thin, acidic soils with cold, wet winters and muddy springs, the herd is exposed to conditions that naturally sort the genetics. Animals that thrive in that environment are the ones selected forward. For those looking for shorthorn cattle for sale in New York with a proven grass-finishing background, this program draws on crossbreeding traditions that trace back to nineteenth-century tenant farming in Scotland, including blue roan Angus-shorthorn blends and blue-grey Galloway-shorthorn combinations long recognized for producing thickly muscled, well-marbled carcasses.

👉 Is this your business?
Claim this breeder profile

You can claim this breeder profile by signing up for a free account and verifying your ownership of the phone number or email address.

This profile was created to help more people discover your business. All information shown here comes from publicly available sources, but it’s not always perfect. Once you claim your profile, you can edit or remove any details you’d like. We’d love your help keeping the directory accurate and up to date!