Don't worry, you didn't offend me. We're not certified organic. CFIA protocols for "All Natural Beef" state that you can't use any type of vaccination, period. Lots of people label their meats "All Natural" and get away with it. For us, what's on our label is what's in the beef. We can back it all up, and it's not just a matter of doing it so we can be different at the expense of the animals in our care.
I always wanted to try running the cattle this way and seeing what we could do on a genetic level. We certainly saw an improvement in cow health and pregnancy rates when we switched to late May-June calving, due to the cows getting a "rest" for the summer since the bulls didn't go out that year until August 15th. But after a couple years we saw the open rate rise, and some death loss in calves. Calves in December/January storms would be healthy one day, then runny nose the next, then dead. We learnt quick to keep some stuff on hand because it seemed like if they got even a sniffle, they could be gone in 48 hours.
The genetics side of this was fascinating to watch though because the same calves that were dying or getting sick were out of the cows that were thin and open. Poorly functioning endocrine systems, which had been masked for years with our Feed-Them-All-Winter-Long regime. I believe that animals fed high quality forage from high quality soil should have everything they need. There's no reason that system can't work because we can test soil and forage. There's no excuse not to know what's going in their mouths, and nothing stopping us from amending soils or supplementing poor forage with better forage.
As for disease outbreak and such, we have less risk than RSL and most folks I think because we have a small herd grazing a large block of land(by local standards) with no cross roads and only adjacent to 1 other cowherd - my Grandad's red Angus cows. And they're so big the air they breathe is in a different climate than mine so I think they're safe. :lol:
Anyway, we're running a little group of cows now that thrive in this system. I most likely won't buy in purebred Galloway genetics anymore because when ever I have - for the most part - the cattle haven't taken well to going on forage alone. THere are a handful of breeders doing what we do, and I may source a bull from one of them eventually. For now, there's no need. Our genetics are improving, as are our forage and soils. If those 3 things are improving, it means selling beef is going to get easier.