Our Beef

We proudly feature three lines of Atlantic beef at Osprey’s Roost : Getaway Farm beef, Millen Farm beef, and Certified Island Beef.

Our parent company is Getaway Farm – a family farm owned and operated just outside of Canning, Nova Scotia atop the North Mountain. Getaway Farm raises all their cattle on a foraged grass diet. Raising cattle on grass is beneficial for three key reasons.

Firstly, grass is the cow’s most natural diet. Cow have evolved as ruminants, meaning that their digestive systems are naturally attuned to digest grass and foraged plants. Grass-fed cattle are often slightly leaner than grain-fed cattle, and may have more Vitamins A & E.

Secondly, grass-fed cattle can be environmentally responsible. Getaway Farm practises carbon accountability when raising their cattle, meaning that as the cattle graze, they ensure grass growth in the fields. The carbon sequestered by the grass offsets the carbon produced by the cattle. By carefully monitoring the impact of individual parts to the whole system, Getaway is able to ensure that their regenerative farming practice positively impact the environment.

You can read more about it here.

Most importantly, grass-fed beef tastes great. By foraging from their immediate environment, the cows pick up foods and flavours that are specific to their environment, resulting in a rich and unique terroir.

Getaway Farm beef is also dry-aged. Dry-aging is the practise of letting the beef hang in a humidity- and temperature-controlled environment in order to ensure flavour development and tenderization. Briefly, dry-aging allows for moisture to evaporate, resulting in a more concentrated product. This means that you don’t pay for water, but as much beef as possible. An enzymatic breakdown occurs within the beef simultaneously, making it more tender. For more information, click here.

Millen Farm raises their beef in Great Village, Nova Scotia – another family owned and operated farm. Millen Farm beef is grass-fed like Getaway Farm beef, carrying many of the same flavours and nutritional benefits. Unlike Getaway Farm beef, however, Millen Farm beef finish their cattle on a grain-based diet. This develops a deeper marbling throughout the beef and allows the animals to get to finished weight at a younger age, meaning the meat is more tender.

Millen Farm beef is dry-aged for a minimum of one week, with the prime rib, striploin, and top sirloins being dry-aged even longer. The remaining cuts are wet-aged.

Wet-aging is the practise of aging cuts of beef in an anaerobic environment (we use vacuum bags). This helps to retain moisture, reduce waste, and allow for a controlled enzymatic breakdown in the beef.

Certified Island Beef comes from our friends at Atlantic Beef Products Inc. (ABPI). ABPI purchase cattle from a selection of small-scale, family farms across Prince Edward Island. Their Certified Island Beef (CIB) line features their highest grade grass-fed, potato and forage finished cattle. All CIB cuts are wet-aged, which results in a flavour that is less intense than Getaway Farm beef, while just as rich.