Pasture Raised Meats

Pasture Raised Goats at Saco River Farms

Goat, Pork, Chicken & Duck Raised With Care at Saco River Farms

At Saco River Farms, we raise meat animals on our own organically managed pasture, with a focus on animal health, quality nutrition, and clean, responsible husbandry.

We raise goat, pork, chicken, and duck as part of a diversified farm system built around healthy soil, healthy animals, and food we are proud to feed our own family.

Pasture Raised Meats

Our animals are raised outdoors with access to fresh air, open space, and pasture managed as part of the broader health of the farm.

We believe meat quality begins long before processing. It starts with:

clean pasture
low-stress handling
species-appropriate nutrition
careful daily observation

We are trying to raise meat with:

integrity
transparency
better nutrition
better animal care
cleaner sourcing decisions

Free range Pork at Saco River Farms Steep Falls Maine

Free range chickens, pasture raised meat, Saco River Farms

This is not the fastest or cheapest way to raise meat. It is simply the way we believe it should be done.

For meats we do not raise on-site, we work with trusted local farms that follow similar principles. The result is food raised in a way that reflects the standards of the farm as a whole.

Nutrition Matters

We feed quality grain tailored to each species, rather than relying on cheaper one-size-fits-all bulk grain.

For that reason, we choose feeds from Poulin Grain, a Vermont company that has been focusing on the science behind animal nutrition 1932. Poulin offers species-specific feed categories for poultry, goats, and pigs, which aligns with our decision to use more carefully targeted rations rather than generic bulk mixes. Give our meat and eggs a try, we promise you will notice the difference!

Our approach includes:

custom-tailored grain by animal type
soy-free chicken grain
higher feed standards even when lower-cost options are available

We choose this path because nutrition affects growth, health, resilience, and ultimately the quality of the meat we raise.

Clean Forage & Hay Standards

For our ruminants, forage quality matters.

We source hay from fields with no known history of PFAS contamination from sludge or paper company ash applications. PFAS (“forever chemicals”) are persistent compounds that can remain in soil and water for long periods of time. Forever Chemicals and have been proven to be toxic to humans and animals. Read more about PFAS / PFOS on Maine.gov and MOFGA.org.

View Maine PFAS mapping data.

While our meats are not “USDA organic”, we purchase organic hay whenever feasible. Our animals are free ranged on our own organically managed pasture in season.

This is part of our broader commitment to clean inputs and careful sourcing throughout the farm.

Our Animal Health Approach

We do not use prophylactic antibiotics.

We do not use mRNA vaccines.

Instead, we focus on:

strong nutrition
clean pasture and bedding
healthy growing conditions
attentive management

Our goal is to raise hardy, healthy animals through good daily husbandry rather than routine pharmaceutical shortcuts.

The Meats We Raise

Fresh Leg of Goat meat - Saco River Farms

Pork

Our pigs are raised with room to move, species-appropriate feed, and close daily care. We aim for pork that reflects both good genetics and good management.

Goat Meat

Our goats are part of the heart of the farm. Raised on pasture and supported with quality forage and grain, our goat meat reflects the same standards we apply across the rest of our livestock program.

Lear more about Goat Meat

Pork Chops, Saco River Farms Pasture Raised meats

Duck

Our ducks are raised as part of the same diversified outdoor system, with attention to nutrition, movement, and low-stress handling.

Whole Chicken

Our chickens are raised outdoors on pasture and fed a soy-free ration selected for their needs. We believe better feed and cleaner living conditions produce better birds.