How We Raise Our Cattle

Where It All Begins

Born and Raised on Our Family Farm

All of our cattle are born and raised right here on our farm in Stockton, Illinois. They start their lives the way nature intended — on open pastures, roaming green hills and grazing freely on fresh grass.

From day one, we’re there with them. Just honest, hands-on farming rooted in our Nadig family’s tradition since 1870. Our cattle roam freely and grow up healthy and strong.

This is more than just farming — it’s knowledge and family practice we’ve passed down since 1870.

nadig-farms-pasture — A peaceful morning on Nadig Farms — our cattle roam the green hills in Jo Daviess county, living life the way nature intended. Photo by Ryan Nadig.

Our Animal Care Practices

We believe caring for cattle means showing up every day and doing what’s right for their health and wellbeing. Our practices are rooted in animal welfare, transparency, and generations of hands-on farming experience.

+ Where are your cattle raised?

All of our cattle are born and raised right here on our family farm in Stockton, Northern Illinois. They spend their entire lives on our land, cared for by our family every step of the way.

+ Do your cattle spend time on pasture?

Yes. Our cattle start their lives on open pasture, grazing on fresh grass and roaming freely. Pasture access is a core part of how we raise healthy, low-stress animals.

+ What do you feed your cattle?

Our cattle eat a balanced, forage-based diet. Early on, that means grass and pasture grazing. As they grow, we introduce home-grown sileage made from alfalfa, corn, and wheat to support healthy development and consistent nutrition.

In the final months, we introduce shelled corn, which helps enhance marbling, tenderness, and flavor.

+ Is your beef grass-fed?

Our beef is not 100% grass-fed by default. We follow a traditional pasture-raised, grain-finished approach that produces flavorful, tender beef.

That said, 100% grass-fed beef is available upon request for customers who prefer it.

+ Why do you feed grain at the end?

Grain finishing during the final months helps improve marbling, texture, and color, resulting in beef that’s consistently tender and rich in flavor — without sacrificing animal health or care.

+ Do you use antibiotics?

We use antibiotics responsibly and only when necessary to treat illness, such as pneumonia or other common health issues. Treating a sick animal is the humane and ethical thing to do.

We never use antibiotics as a shortcut or for routine growth — animal health and wellbeing always come first.

+ Are your cattle vaccinated?

Yes. Our cattle receive routine vaccinations to protect against clostridial infections, Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), cattle flu, and other preventable diseases. This proactive approach keeps our herd healthy and thriving.

+ How do you ensure animal welfare?

We care for our cattle personally and daily — walking pastures, checking feed and water, and monitoring health and comfort. We believe calm, well-cared-for cattle live better lives and produce better beef.

+ What does BQA Certified mean?

We are Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certified, which means we follow nationally recognized standards for animal care, health management, and responsible farming practices.

+ Why does how cattle are raised matter?

Healthy, low-stress cattle raised with care don’t just live better lives — they produce better-tasting, higher-quality beef. That’s the difference you’ll taste from farm-raised beef done right.

Born on Grass, Finished with Care

Grass Beginnings, Grain Finished

Our cattle start their lives on lush pastures, grazing on grass. As they grow, we introduce a balanced diet that includes home-grown sileage to ensure they develop beef with exceptional flavor.

Every spring, we plant and harvest alfalfa, corn, and wheat to provide our cattle with a nutritious, high-quality forage diet. In the final three months on our farm, we introduce shelled corn to their diet, which enhances the beef’s marbling and rich color.

Our beef is not 100% grass-fed. However, for customers who prefer 100% grass-fed beef, we’re happy to offer it upon request.

Request 100% Grass-Fed Beef

Hands-on, Everyday in Stockton, Illinois

We Care for Them Ourselves

We care for our herd personally, every step of the way. That means walking the pastures, checking on the animals, and making sure they’re healthy, well-fed, and comfortable.

By staying close and caring for each, we make sure each member of our herd enjoys the best possible life here at Nadig Farms.

We believe that happy, healthy cattle not only thrive but also create a positive difference, in tune with the natural rhythms of the land.

angus-cattle-closeup — Checking in on the herd — up close and personal, making sure everyone is healthy and thriving. Photo by Ryan Nadig.

angus-closeup-3 — A curious calf paused to say hello as as make our rounds on the farm. Photo by Ryan Nadig.

beef-quality-assurance-certification — Certification under Rob Nadig, Ryan Nadig, and Stephanie Nadig (Feltmeyer).

Health Comes First

Keeping Them Healthy

At Nadig Farms, we believe healthy cattle lead to better lives for them and better beef for you. That’s why we focus on proactive care and routine checkups.

When needed, we use antibiotics responsibly — for things like pneumonia or other common illnesses. We also vaccinate to protect against clostridial infections, Bovine Viral Diarrhea, cattle flu, and other health risks.

As proud Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certified farmers, we’re committed to meeting the highest standards of animal care and management.

A Farming Tradition in Northern Illinois

Our Way of Life

Raising cattle this way takes time, hard work, and care — but it’s absolutely worth it. It’s the same hands-on approach our family has followed for generations since emigrating from Germany in 1854.

We’re proud of the work we do and the legacy we carry. Every day, we honor that tradition that raising cattle the right way we believe in tune with nature and sharing our farm story with you.