My family has been raising livestock in Dimmit County, Texas, for four generations. In 1998, I decided to dedicate myself to raising the American buffalo on the ranch. We call our land The Shape Ranch, an acronym for Sarah, Hugh, Asa, Patrick and Evelyn; all the members of my family.
Here we produce grass fed, field harvested bison, and wild Texas guajillo honey. My approach is to operate as a hunter gatherer would rather than as a conventional rancher. We allow the land to produce as it should.
For thousands of years, the bison has provided for the indigenous people of North America. At the Shape Ranch we honor this tradition by allowing our bison to be free-ranging, independent, and from the day they are born, to live with minimal interference.
By not weaning the calves, we allow for the natural establishment of extended family groups and the formation of their inherent matriarchal society. This husbandry practice lends security to the herd and is essential to the social well being of the bison. With this guiding principle, we raise bison whose health and powerful immune systems are legendary and whose nutritional profile is second to none.
By grazing on native grasses and never being confined to a feedlot, our bison utilize what nature intended for them. Hooded windmill, little bluestem, and curly mesquite are just some of the native grass species that blanket our pastures.
To ensure the quality of our product and reduce stress, all animals are field harvested under the supervision of a licensed inspector from the Texas Department of Health. By doing this, we eliminate the stress on the animal that is caused by transportation to a slaughter facility which can result in a "wild game" taste.
The result? Thunder Heat Bison produces the absolute finest premium grade bison meat available. The flavor is nothing less than sublime - tender, clean, and flavorful; the purest protein on the planet.
Terry Conlon, chef at the Lake Austin Spa says ,
"One bite of this stuff will remind you of why they didn't put a cow on the nickel. Strip loins to stew meat, this is the grass fed, chemical free, lean, clean and delicious red meat that has been fortifying North Americans, the originals and those who came later, quite literally for centuries. I have a bison/blue cheese burger on my menu that's been 'thundering' out of the kitchen since day one."
Noted chef and author, Deborah Madison, said this when she tasted
Thunder Heart Bison,
"This is the most deeply nutritious meat I have ever eaten."
Please visit us at the web at http://www.thunderheartbison.com/
