Hensleigh Healthy Beef

Michele and Paul Hensleigh started in the cattle business in the late 1990s. Michele, who was raised with cattle, wanted to pass this knowledge and love on to their children. Initially, they bought about 25 drop calves over a couple of years, bottle-fed them, and sold them at auction. In 2003, they expanded by purchasing two pairs (cows with calf) and a heifer from the auction, along with about 10 more cows. For the first 15 years, they finished out a handful of steers a year, selling the meat to friends and family. In 2017, they began selling their meat at farmers markets, receiving an amazing response. Currently, they breed about 60 cows and process about 40 steers annually.

The operation involves fine-tuning breeding lines by keeping the best heifers for breeding and selling cows that don't produce well. At 9 to 12 months, they decide which steers to feed out with grain. Starting at 14 to 18 months, the steers are grain-fed for a minimum of 4 months, usually closer to 5 months, ensuring they are 'finished out'. At 18 to 24 months, the steers are taken to a USDA-inspected facility for harvesting. The processing facility dry ages the beef for approximately 3 weeks before cutting and wrapping.

In June 2021, they introduced HH Beef 'Gold', a premium line from their Wagyu Bull, Rocky, known for its exceptional tenderness. They sell their meat at various farmers markets in Folsom, Davis, and Midtown Sacramento every Saturday, and at Mahany Park in Roseville every other Sunday.