Ayrshire Farm
| Rating |  |
| Product offerings | Retail cuts, wholesale |
| Website | ayrshirefarm.com |
| Market area | Locally in VA |
| Location | Upperville, VA |
| Specialty labels | Certified Humane, heritage, diversified |
| Participated in Survey? | Yes |
| Total Score | 1015 |
From their website: “Ayrshire Farm is unique in the region as a working farm that has met the 21st century with one foot firmly planted in the 19th. The first farm in Virginia to be Certified Humane®, Certified USDA Organic, and Certified Predator Friendly, Ayrshire raises rare and endangered breeds of cattle, pigs and poultry, including Highland, Ancient White Park and English Longhorn cattle as well as Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs and Broad-Breasted Bronze turkeys.”
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1100) | 1015 | 5-Steak |
Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points. Transparency and Disclosure | 100 | Superb transparency |
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Family farms and farmer cooperatives that market their own beef receive the most points. Corporations that do not directly produce any beef receive the fewest points.
Ownership History | 100 | Single ownership farm/ranch |
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Beef sourced from a single operation receives the most points. Beef of unclear origins and/or with poor oversight receives the fewest points. Beef Supply | 100 | Our/my brand sources beef from a single-farm source |
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Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points. Commitment to Organics | 100 | Only sells certified organic beef |
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This category is non-scoring and provided for information purposes. Organic Certifier | OTCO/Oregon Tilth | |
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Animal Welfare Approved, Real Organic Project, and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Labels and Standards | 80 | Certified Humane, Food Alliance, Predator Friendly, Non-GMO Project Verified |
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100% grass-fed and finished or cattle finished with site-grown supplement receives the most points. Cattle finished exclusively in a feedlot receive the fewest points. Beef Finishing | 80 | Finished on small lot with grain ration in addition to access to pasture and hay |
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Points are awarded for quantity of time cattle are on pasture above and beyond what the USDA requires, and for the quality and care of the pasture. Pasture and Grazing Management | 90 | Long rotation, rests pasture until regrowth is shown. Part of Savory Institute Hub (holistic management) |
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Brands that closely monitor and manage for health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points. Environmental Stewardship | 85 | Brand monitors vegetation, water (well testing), and soil quality using some markers. Does not use public lands. Maintains forested areas/certified Predator Friendly |
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Cattle finished on pasture or on feed that is grown on-farm or procured locally receive the most points. Feed of unknown origin, or known to be imported, receives the fewest points. Feed Sourcing | 80 | Obtain feed from organic supplier that distributes locally |
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Lower cull and death rates recieve more points. Cull and Death Rates | 100 | Less than 5% |
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More points are given for greater frequency of contact and close management with cattle and closed herds. Oversight | 100 | Routine checks and brand has closed herd |
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Brands may receive extra credit for above and beyond transparency, or special practices not otherwise covered in the scorecard (see description for an explanation). Extra credit | 0 | None |
