Deep Roots Meat, LLC

Raising & Ranching Angus Cattle for 6 Generations The Platt family has raised cattle in Florida for six generations. The family is originally from North Carolina and moved to Melbourne, Florida, in the 1870s. The family raised cattle before the sprawling city landscape. The family decided to move to Madison, Florida, around 2004. The family was interested in Madison because the population growth in Brevard County was unsuitable for a cattle ranch. Additionally, South Florida has no colder climates to grow the necessary forages during the wintertime. However, Melbourne had advantages such as free-flowing wells and abundant water. Once in Madison, the Platt family began to prepare the property for cattle. This included building fences, running water lines, installing water troughs, and drilling wells. The property was first used for hunting animals like ducks and deer, leaving the landscape untouched by pesticides and commercial fertilizers. The family began experimenting with planting different grass and forages and realized they could raise cattle only on grasses and forages by supplementing them with hay. However, ranchers and researchers said they would have to supplement cows with feed, cottonseed, and soy hull pellets since these were acceptable by a conventional grass-fed label. The family began to submit their hay samples to the Southeastern Hay Contest (2006). They won 1st place in the Grass Baleage category with an RFQ (Relative Forage Quality) of 128 and in the Legume Baleage category with an RFQ value of 215. Shortly after, the Platts began doing some research for a grass-fed beef company. The topic of research was how to finish cattle on grasses and forages. They took four steers and separated them from the rest of the herd. The cattle only got grass and forages, and were supplemented with hay and baleage when needed. The results were that the cattle still gained fat, and the meat had a 1:1 ratio of omega-3s and 6s (fatty acids). The Platts had now had enough proof to raise cattle on only grass and forage. They separated from the company towards the end of the research process. A drought occurred, and the company wanted to turn off the water to the cows. Harold (Hotshot) Platt disagreed and wanted to pursue his own company, where he had control of the cattle. The family went to the USDA to receive an All Grass (Forage) Fed Beef label. However, the USDA wanted them to have a regular grass-fed label. The family was now raising cattle on 100% grass and forages and insisted they had the new label to set them apart from competitors. They received the label, and thus, Deep Roots Meat was created in 2009. Harold "Hotshot" Platt was born in Melbourne, Florida, on December 19, 1946. He was a cattleman all his life. He lived in Palm Bay, Florida, where he raised his family. In 2004, he and his family: his wife (Cheri), children (Troy and Tricia), and his grandsons (Levi, Tyler, Wyatt, and Tanner) moved to Madison, Florida, where he continued to raise cattle. He and his son, Troy, won multiple awards at the Southeastern Hay Contest. This led them to develop All Grass (Forage) Fed Beef, making beef a Healthy food. After, they founded the family business, Deep Roots Meat. The family was honored in 2011 by receiving the Florida Grazing Lands Stewardship Award. Hotshot passed away on August 31, 2013, in Gainesville, Florida. On his family headstone, it is inscribed: "God made a Rancher of Deep Roots with the strength to throw a calf and the gentleness to love and encourage God's gifts, from the sounds of dogs running a deer to the beauty of the sun setting on grazing cattle." He would be Very Proud to know that his family has carried on where he left off, including being a part of the annual farm tour. On June 25, 2009, the Platt Family was awarded the County Alliance for Responsible Stewardship (CARES) Award for Outstanding Environmental Stewardship by improving the Environment. On September 21, 2010, Troy Platt was awa