Why We Vaccinate Our Cattle — And Why It Matters to You

At Heartstone Farms, we’re committed to raising healthy animals the right way—not the fast way. That means doing things that are time-tested, humane, and proven to work. One of those things is using well-established vaccines to protect our cattle from common, serious illnesses—especially respiratory disease.

We often get asked about our protocols when it comes to vaccines. A lot of folks have read or heard information about the use of mRNA vaccines and their use in cattle. Before discussing mRNA vaccines  - which we do not use - let's share what we do use. 

Preventing Illness, Naturally

Cattle, like people, are vulnerable to certain infections—particularly respiratory diseases that can spread quickly in a herd. Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), for example, is a major cause of illness and even death in beef cattle nationwide.

That’s why we use a carefully chosen set of traditional vaccines that have been used safely and effectively in American cattle for decades.  I want to emphasize - these are not experimental drugs. These vaccines help prevent:

• Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) – including viruses like IBR and BVD

• Clostridial diseases – like blackleg, which can kill healthy calves without warning

• Other common illnesses that can compromise animal health and welfare

No mRNA. No Antibiotics. No Growth Hormones. Period.

We do not use mRNA vaccines.
We do not use antibiotics in our cattle.
And we absolutely do not use growth hormones—ever.

That’s a hard line for us. While we take steps to protect our cattle from getting sick, we don’t believe in shortcuts, artificial growth boosters, or experimental treatments. Instead, we rely on time-tested, conventional veterinary vaccines—used responsibly and with the health of the animal in mind.

Humane and Low-Stress

Our cattle are handled gently and respectfully. Vaccinations are given as part of a regular health checkup in a calm, low-stress setting. It’s all about prevention—not intervention. Healthy animals don’t need to be rescued with antibiotics or treated with drugs—they just need care, space, good pasture, and clean water. That’s what we give them.

Why It Matters to You

Healthier cattle mean better meat—plain and simple. When animals aren’t stressed or sick, the result is better flavor, better marbling, and better nutrition. And because our cattle are never given antibiotics or hormones, you can feel confident in what you’re feeding your family.