Rocking Chair Ranch – Forsyth, GA

Joseph Egloff, a fourth-generation cattle farmer, raises Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW) beef cattle at Rocking Chair Ranch Cattle in Forsyth, GA, just north of the city of Macon. Rocking Chair Ranch Cattle started in 2014, with the idea of serving a local burger in Macon—but has grown over the years, now supplying beef local restaurants, farmers’ markets and retail grocers across the state.

Joseph raises his cattle outdoors on pasture, where they graze a mixed variety of grasses on gentle rolling hills. “Foraging on Bermuda grass in the summer and a mix of fescue and white Dutch clover in the winter, our cattle are the products of a careful management approach, intended to ensure consistent quality and flavorful beef,” says Joseph. “Our aim is to supply our customers with the best beef we possibly can. We achieve this through our strategic breeding program, cross-breeding for selective traits, including heat and drought tolerance, longevity, disposition and meat quality, as well as strict nutritional standards and high-welfare farming practices at the ranch.”

Joseph manages a herd of 140 head of mixed breed cattle and is a proud proponent of pasture-based management and sustainable farming. “We find that managing our pastures is just as important as maintaining the health and well-being of our cattle,” says Joseph. “Our cattle are rotated from pasture to pasture every couple of weeks. This keeps the grass from being overgrazed and allows it the opportunity to renew itself.” His production practices include rotational management of his herd of cattle, where the cattle graze one section of pasture before being moved to fresh fields. Rotational management also keeps the soil properly fertilized and minimizes the build-up of internal parasites, thereby avoiding reliance on chemical treatments. “We are committed to promoting animal welfare and health, as well as to leaving a minimal impact on our environment,” says Joseph.

Rocking Chair Ranch Cattle chose to pursue AGW certification because of their commitment to animal welfare and because it matters to their customers. “Our Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW certification gives our customers the reassurance that the beef they purchased came from a farm that treated that cow with kindness and respect.”

Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW beef from Rocking Chair Ranch is available directly from the farm and from area farmers’ markets. Check the AGW directory for details. For more information about Rocking Chair Ranch Cattle, visit www.rockingchairranchcattle.com, the farm’s Facebook and Instagram accounts or contact Joseph Egloff at rockingchairranchcattle@gmail.com or 478-731-6262.