Mecca and I thought about our farm name for a couple of years before settling on Holland Land & Cattle. Most options were already taken in the state of Arkansas, but this name turns out to be specifically important to us. We are farming the same ground homesteaded by my great-great-great grandfather Malden Holland in 1860. To say we aren’t new to farming or Van Buren County is an understatement, a
s we have been on the same ground for over 150 years. We are 100% family owned and operated and intend to stay that way through the Holland legacy. We chose to have “Land” in our name not to sound like a big operation, but because we take pride in caring for our land and environment. Most cattle farmers will tell you that they are first grass farmers, followed by cattle farmers. This statement couldn’t be more true. As humans, we owe are entire existence to a layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains. We strive to have healthy soil to grow our mixed season grasses, which is the foundation for a productive cattle herd. Finally, we are a Cattle Company. Mecca and I started our herd in 2015 with 6 bred heifers of Charolais, Hereford and Angus crosses from my cousin Farris Burroughs at Farris Burroughs Farms. This is perhaps my favorite cross because they produce a vigorous calf that grows quick while having a high dressing percentage at processing. We do not implant growth hormones because our steers grow to approximately 700 pounds in 6 months naturally. We do not freely use antibiotics, meaning we do not feed medicated feeds or mineral with antibiotics. We only treat our cattle with antibiotics when it is a life or death situation. Some people are sensitive about this issue, but it is our responsibility to care for our cattle and get them healthy as quickly as possible. We do not have to treat cattle very often with antibiotics, but when we do we follow vet and label directions. Our cattle are humanely treated and always get fed before we sit down to eat.
