Beef Cattle Talk

The Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society will host a presentation and discussion of beef cattle production a 7:30 p.m. this Friday, July 9.

The guest speakers are two cattlemen with an international reputation for their development of beef cattle suited to beef production entirely on grass, with no grain or hormone supplements. Ridge Shinn, of Hardwick, has been a pioneer in the development of minor breeds for tender, tasty, healthful beef. This led him to New Zealand to meet the other speaker for Friday’s talk, Ken McDonald, who built a herd of Devon cattle on the Rotakawa Ranch in New Zealand which Shinn later purchased and imported to Massachusetts.

Both men have toured the U.S. discussing cattle breeding, feeding and marketing and will share their experiences with Islanders in an informal discussion. There is no charge for the program.