Puttense hooglanders

Puttense Hooglanders is a herd of more than 20 Scottish Highland cattle in the countryside around Putten, whose beef is sold frozen from the farm.

The herd began in 2015 with six cows bought to keep the grass down. The cattle live outside 24 hours a day all year on hilly land with a large patch of woodland, and they grow on grass and herbs, not maize, soy or grain, without antibiotics; the cows calve without human help, and their website says the calves stay with their mothers much longer than organic rules require. A small-scale butcher slaughters and cuts the meat. It comes in packs of roasting and braising cuts, premium steaks or a trial selection, and every cut can be ordered separately, including bones for broth without meat in packs of about 1 kg, liver, rolled roast, beef smoked sausage, bavette and picanha; kidneys, heart or tongue can be asked for on the order form.

You order through the form on their website; orders are handled on Friday and collected on Saturday at Vanenburgerallee 22 in Putten, so bring a cool box. When a cut has sold out you can ask to be told when the next animal is slaughtered.

Their website points out that organic beef cattle are usually finished in barns, while these animals stay outside on grass and herbs their whole lives.