Audubon Certified Conservation Ranching
Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Beef: Beyond Organic, Built for Nature.
At The High Lonesome Ranch, we believe that exceptional beef starts with extraordinary land stewardship. That is why our beef proudly carries the Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly seal.
While many beef brands focus solely on what goes into the animal, our certification proves how our ranching practices actively heal the ecosystem. When you choose our beef, you aren’t just buying premium, high-quality meat, you are voting for restored bird habitats, healthier soil, and thriving biodiversity across Western Colorado.
The 4 Strict Protocols Behind Our Audubon Certification
To earn and maintain our Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly seal, our operation adheres to four rigorous, audited standards:
1. Habitat Management Plan: We graze our cattle purposefully to create a natural “mosaic” of varied grass heights. This dynamic landscape ensures native grassland birds have the exact cover, shelter, and forage they need to nest, breed, and thrive. Every habitat strategy we implement is tailored directly to our land’s unique ecosystem and bird conservation needs.
2. Forage & Feeding: Our cattle spend their lives freely grazing open pastures as nature intended. Our herds are 100% pasture-raised, no feedlots are allowed in this program. At The High Lonesome Ranch, our cattle benefit from a massive biodiversity advantage: an elevation gradient ranging from 4,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level. This topography allows our herd to forage across distinct ecological zones, accessing over 60 different species of native grasses, legumes, and mountain shrubs throughout the growing season. This diverse, landscape-scale diet supports a robust gut microbiome in our cattle, resulting in beef that is naturally richer in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and minerals.
3. Animal Health & Welfare: We adhere to the highest livestock production standards, prioritizing low-stress handling and compassionate care at every stage of life. Each one of our employees are BQA certifified because animal welfare is at the core of our operations, mistreatment is never tolerated.
4. Environmental Sustainability: We protect our soil, water, and wildlife by eliminating harmful inputs.We are strictly prohibited from using chemical insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides on our grazing lands.We never use chemical poisons to control pests or predators, ensuring a safe, non-toxic food chain for local wildlife and pollinators.
Why Audubon Certified is “Beyond Organic”
A common question we receive is whether our beef is Certified Organic. While we choose not to carry the standard organic label, we hold ourselves to a standard that is even more comprehensive and meaningful for the land.
Traditional organic standards focus primarily on what isn’t applied to the land or given to the animal. The Audubon Conservation Ranching Certification goes several steps further: it actively measures positive ecological outcomes.
The Result? Healthier soil, cleaner watersheds, flourishing native bird populations, and rich, nutrient-dense beef you can feel good about serving to your family.
Taste the Difference Clean Stewardship Makes
Every purchase directly funds the protection and restoration of American grasslands. Experience the flavor, quality, and peace of mind that comes from beef raised in harmony with nature.
To learn more, please read this article by Anthony Hauck, Communications Manager, Audubon Conservation Ranching