Offering the best custom produced beef available on the market for direct ranch to table production.
Black Butte Beef is supplied by Beard Cattle Company and Rockin L Genetics. We offer both American Wagyu and Angus beef options. All of our beef is processed through a USDA facility in Montana. We strive to keep all production local and within our state to benefit the local economy as well as to limit travel and stress on the animals. For more information see our FAQ page.
THE BLACK BUTTE BEEF PROMISE
Black Butte Beef strives to offer the best custom produced beef available on the market for direct ranch to table production. Our cattle to beef process is not rushed and prioritizes the animals’ wellbeing in a low stress environment. We take the necessary time and patience to develop our beef to meet our high standards of production and customize our cattle to meet individual customer needs and preferences.
​
We promise that our customers can be confident that their beef comes from a local ranch where the animals are treated with respect and the best possible care. This low-stress commitment helps these animals flourish and produce premium quality beef.
Meet the Herd
All the cattle are born and raised on Beard Cattle Co.in Grass Range, MT or Rockin L Genetics just outside of Winnett, MT.
The cattle spend their summers grazing on the Square Butte Grazing Association and other pastures in Fergus County. Our cattle are never mingle with others and run completely as a closed herd. Come fall and winter the herd makes their way back onto the ranches in Grass Range and Winnett where we feed hay and supplement with mineral & probiotic tubs and molasses cake to keep cattle healthy, quiet and happy.
Low stress working practices and natural cattle production is what Black Butte Beef strives to achieve. Animal well-being is our primary focus. The cattle are not only considered a part of the business, but part of the family. Many of the mother cows, which will never go to harvest have names attached to them to match their personalities.
Grass-Fed / Grass or Grain-Finished
We require our Wagyu is aged a minimum of 30 months and Angus be 18 months before they are butchered . Due to this requirement, there are limited animals available every year which means that ordering early is key to receiving our premium beef. Therefore, be sure to put your name on our ordering lists.
The cattle that Black Butte produces are all grass-fed and grain- finished. Clients that prefer grass-finished over grain can order this option by directly emailing or calling us. For bulk orders (full & half beef), each animal is processed according to an individual client’s personal preference. You can talk directly to us for instructions on cutting and wrapping that fits your needs. Breakdowns on available cuts and what to expect when ordering (% burger, steak, roast etc.) is shown on our ordering page and FAQ page.
​
​
Wagyu
Our Wagyu beef began with a base F1 cross of Black Angus/Wagyu herd. Pure bred Wagyu bulls have been used to breed the original F1 crosses and every generation from there forth will move towards more purebred Wagyu animals and genetics targeting carcass improvement. The foundation herd originates from a known herd where 80% of the animals meet the Gold standard of Snake River Farms. Beard Cattle Company will continue to strive to use these genetics to help produce the finest Wagyu available for Black Butte Beef.
​
What sets our Wagyu separate from other Wagyu? First, we require our animals to be at least 30 months of age before harvest, giving them the time to reach their full potential. Second, our cattle are raised on the open range and not small holding pens with hay or over grazed pastures. All summer, our Wagyu graze in grass over their backs in a pasture that is significantly under stocked to insure full potential and growth. Further, the grain finishing stage does not take place in feedlots or on rationed feed but here on the ranch with free-choice hay and grain provided. This feeding program is to ensure that there is no stress or competition for our animals.
​
Any animals that must be doctored with antibiotics do not get accepted into the Black Butte Beef production.
Angus
Black Butte Beef’s Black Angus cattle are grass-fed and grass or grain-finished by the age of 18 months. These animals are young females that go through our beef program where they are fed out between 120-150 days. Our traditional Black Angus production herd has provided beef for many families across the state of Montana and the US all the way to the east coast. Rockin L Genetics has spent over a decade perfecting the Black Angus genetics that run through both the Rocking L Genetics and Beard Cattle Co. herds. These animals produce prime grade quality beef and we are proud of our herds with great genetics for superior marbling, flavor and consistency.
For more information about our Angus program and products, please contact us or see our FAQ page.
The Hands Behind the Herd
Meet Allen & Krista Manley Beard
Black Butte Beef and Beard Cattle Company were started by Allen and Krista back in 2015. Both Allen and Krista were born and raised in small town Montana and were immersed in various areas of agriculture their entire lives. While attending high school and then college at Montana State University, Allen worked on a local ranch in Bozeman, MT for 14 years. Upon graduating with a B.S. in Farm & Ranch Management and Economics, he moved to central Montana where he managed a large Angus ranch and feedlot for a decade. Simultaneously, he worked hard to build Beard Cattle Co. from the ground up to the herd we have today. Krista was raised on a family cattle ranch where they raised Black Angus. She started her own herd while in high school through the FSA and used her earnings to pay for college. While attending Montana State University she spent weekends and summers working on the ranch. Once she completed her B.S. and then M.S., she spent four years at Iowa State University completing her Ph.D. in Cognitive Science before moving back to Montana. They have one child, Renfri June who loves all of the animals on the ranch, but especially the cows.
"We started with the goal of growing and managing our herd with full transparency so our customers could be confident in the origin and treatment of their food. We are passionate about our cattle and their well-being. We like to share our experience with family, friends and clients and encourage people to reach out and get educated on what we do, how we do it, and what can be achieved with determination, hard work and a lot of love. "
THE FINISHING PROCESS
The finishing process and time can be customized to each individual client. For example, should you prefer grass fed and finished we can accommodate or if you really like that thick fat and extreme marbling that Wagyu is known for we can extend the finishing timeline. Because we are small, we are able to accommodate 100% customer preferences. If you are unsure? We are happy to help and make recommendations.