Magruder Ranch and Hodo Soy

Our relationship with Hodo Soy began in early 2010, when they contacted us looking for a local livestock operation to potentially take the byproduct from their soymilk and tofu production.  At the time, they were landfilling over one ton of food-grade byproduct each week and looking for a more sustainable solution.  We scheduled an initial meeting, in which we got a tour of their facility in Oakland and learned all about the process of making soy milk and tofu.  Of particular interest, we learned that the process produces a large amount of soybean pulp byproduct, leftovers from when you press out the soy milk.  

After a little research, we discovered that okara, though low in carbohydrates and fat (extracted with the soymilk), does contain protein and trace minerals.  In addition, it is high in indigestible fibers, making it a great way to add bulk to feed.  In fact, we found out that okara is often used in Japan as a pig feed, as a way to use the leftovers from tofu production there.  So, we brought back several bags to mix into our pig feed and voila - the pigs loved it.  And though Hodo Soy is 100 miles south of us, we realized we could pickup the okara on our biweekly trip to our cattle processor in Petaluma, filling our empty cattle trailer for the return trip.  We decided to incorporate it into our feeding regiment.

Over a year and half later, okara is now a key component in our pig feed.  We mix the smell-less and tasteless okara with ground whole wheat and soak it overnight in whey, another byproduct from a neighboring cheesemaker here in Mendocino County.  By the morning, the mixture resembles cream-of-wheat in consistency and has a pungent odor from the whey.  And yes, the pigs still love it.  Plus it adds bulk to their feed, extending the rich wheat and whey.  For our business, it saves us from buying in more virgin feed and keeps a valuable byproduct from entering the landfill.  But the story doesn't end there.

We are a 5th-generation, family owned & operated, pasture-based livestock ranch in Mendocino County.  We produce 100% grass-fed & finished beef, lamb, and pastured-pork.  For 30 years, at the direction of Mac Magruder, we have practiced holistic ranch management, including rotational grazing and low-input, organic pasture production.  Our guiding principle has been to raise food in cooperation with the land, in a way that enhances not only the health of the consumer but also the health of the soil, landscape, and animals.  We believe fresh feed, open space, a healthy ecosystems, and a low-stress lifestyle are primary factors in the wellbeing of the animals and quality & safety of the meat.

Our operation is centered on our 2400-acre family ranch in Potter Valley.  Our pigs are raised on over 500 acres of pasture and oak woodland; our cattle graze on more than 8000 acres of rangeland and 300 acres of irrigated pasture.  We use no artificial fertilizers, soil inputs, herbicides, nor pesticides.  We produce our own hay for winter, all of our own compost, and manage our animals such that manure is always distributed in the field.