We’re getting started by focusing on Family, Product Quality and Customer Convenience. We didn’t deliver our first grass fed beef quarter until October of 2018. That was over a year and a half after we had made the decision to sell grass fed beef. It takes time to raise and finish a high-quality steer on grass… usually around 22 - 28 months. That may seem like a long time, but if we had to buy a set of cows, breed them and then get started, it would have taken even longer. Beef production is a major undertaking. And we couldn’t have gotten started as quickly as we did without the amazing foundation built by our family.

Our Family

O’Briens have been raising cattle in South Texas since the 1830’s. I remember hearing about beef carcass traits and good maternity traits for the heat and brush of South Texas since I can remember hearing anything at all. For me, learning very early in life and having the amazing foundation of being a 7th generation rancher was both energizing and intimidating. It’s energizing because all the bold stories from “back in the day” makes me believe we can do anything! It’s also energizing because the reputation passed down to us has opened lots of doors. However, it’s intimidating because we certainly don’t want to be the ones to mess that up!!

I said that to say this - we research thoroughly, proceed cautiously and evaluate CONSTANTLY. Research began when the idea first came up while discussing cleaner, more traditional food consumption with my wife’s neurologist in San Antonio back in 2015. My wife, Tonni, lives with Multiple Sclerosis and her doctor had been researching nutrition as a means to combat the disease. Grass fed beef was already a common term. Farmers markets were starting to really take off as well. Tonni is in marketing, so with her help I drowned myself in resources in an effort to gain a perspective on direct-to-consumer marketing.

Then there’s learning which beef genetics convert best on grass. There is plenty of data available out there for feed conversion, but not hardly anything in regards to finishing cattle on grass. What we did have though was an opportunity to study the results of over 100 years of South Texas beef production by my Dad and uncles, their dad, his dad and the men that went before him as well. This allowed us to put together a selection of breed types from our herds that we wanted to try out. We could evaluate each type by looking at the cuts of beef they produced and zero in on which steers produce the highest quality beef for this climate and land.

So in 2016, we got started. We purchased our first 3 steers from my grandfather, John Morgan O’Brien ( J.M. ), off of the F1 tiger-striped herd in a pasture we call the South Quincy. They were by Charolais bulls and looked great. We were off and running.

At this point, I’ll admit, we were a little overwhelmed. We didn’t even know enough to know what we didn’t know. ;)

But… we benefited from a family that believed in - and enabled - our getting started.

Families are precious. We’re working hard to feed ours better. And we invite you to let us feed yours as well.

Product Quality

All of our steers are born, raised and finished on grass right here on our family ranch in South Texas.

BUT - It’s not enough just to know where your food comes. We don’t think it’s enough to also know how it was raised.

We’ve also gone from pasture to plate with 6 different genetic types, evaluated their beef and are narrowing our search for the perfect South Texas steer that provides the highest quality grass fed beef. We’re implementing a rotational grazing program to improve our grass - which improves our steers. And we’re looking into other methods to continue to improve upon what we’re already doing.

The grass fed beef you buy from us - Your beef - has a rich heritage, but we are continuously looking forward to ensure that it gets better and better.

Customer Convenience

We deliver grass fed beef straight to your doorstep.

Everyone is busy. Feeding a family is hard work. Heck, even if you’re only feeding yourself, it takes time to get what you need at the store before you have to take the time to cook it up. We’re eliminating part of that struggle.

We were delivering grass fed beef quarters (100-125 lbs) and halves (200-250 lbs) when we started out. We rented a freezer trailer and brought delicious, vacuum-sealed grass fed beef right to our friend’s and neighbor’s doorsteps. You can still purchase bulk amounts of beef from us, but there is a little bit of a waiting period.

Today, we’re offering Beef Boxes that include hamburger meat, roasts and steaks. Orders placed Monday - Wednesday arrive at your doorstep the next day. We had several families request larger amounts of grass fed hamburger meat, so now we’re also offering a 12 lb ground beef Burger Box - also with next day arrival.

We’ll have individual cuts available soon and are considering custom Beef Boxes as well. We’re always working to improve how you can get the best beef the easiest way for you. One of the ways we listen is to your comments on our Facebook Page - O’Brien Grassfed Beef - please follow us and let us know what you need.