mRNA and Vaccines

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January 9, 2024

Many folks wonder what the Polyface position is on vaccinations and now the new mRNA materials.

In short, we don’t use any of it. But please read on for a more complete understanding.

We used vaccines twice in our history, both now about 20 years ago. The first was in chickens and the other was in beef. A lady asked us to raise 500 laying hens for her because she didn’t feel comfortable starting the chicks. We said yes but when it came time for them to lay, she changed her mind and didn’t want them.

We hadn’t prepared for 500 extra chickens and didn’t have anywhere for them to go. That spring was cold and damp. And cold and damp. We kept them in the brooder house hoping the weather would clear so we could put them outside. A week turned into two weeks. They got crowded. Not something you’d want to take a picture of—unless you were working for an animal welfare group.

By the time the weather broke enough to get them out, they were stressed. They contracted a relatively weak virus called Marek’s disease and we lost most of them. Kind of a cross between respiratory infection and coughs, this was a common problem in the early 20^th century before the widespread use of vaccines and antibiotics. It’s highly communicable and we were unwilling to kill and incinerate every chicken on the place to start over.

So for two or three years, we vaccinated our chicks against Marek’s as a layer of protection until the virility of it could dissipate. It did and we quit and have never had a problem since.

The point? The disease was our fault.

Case number two. We rented a nearby farm property to get more pasture to expand our beef numbers. This place had acres of thick, 12-foot high blackberry patches, some covering as much as 2 or 3 acres. The landowner didn’t want us to mow them down because they provided some wildlife habitat. But they were spreading and we had plenty of edge and steep spots for habitat; the place was not lacking for wildlife habitat.

We decided to start our quiet under-the-radar eradication program by stomping and tromping them out with the cattle by placing the mineral box in the brambles. We took a herd of about 70 calves weighing 5-600 pounds each over there and after a week, one died. The next day another one. The next day two. That never happens at Polyface and we knew we had something terribly wrong. We called the vet and in 5 minutes he had our answer: blackleg. It’s a 100 percent deadly condition that attacks the nervous system, inducing quick paralysis and death.

Largely eradicated through the use of vaccines, this protozoa stays in the soil for decades. The only way to get ahead of it was to vaccinate the herd, which we did, and that stopped it immediately. But that didn’t sit well; we don’t use vaccines and don’t want to be dependent on them. Why, of all our animals and on all our ground, did this one herd, at this time, on this place, suddenly succumb to blackleg?

We started looking through our old cattle books—quite a collection we’ve put together over the years—and every single one said it was ubiquitous and vaccination was the only remedy. But in the last book, the last paragraph, we found an Aha! “Often induced by anaerobic puncture wounds caused by thorns and brambles.” Voila! There was the answer. We’d turned these cattle into veritable pincushions and overrun their immune systems with abuse. Our fault.

We presented this information to the landowner, who promptly gave us permission to mow the brambles and we’ve never had a problem since and never vaccinated again. The point of this is that in our experience, things people vaccinate for are caused by us. We stress animals or don’t feed them right or don’t pick robust animals.

How do you know which ones have a good immune system if you cover up weaknesses with vaccines? By taking away the crutches, the robust animals thrive and nature weeds out the weak. That’s the way we gradually move immunological vibrancy forward. Sure, losing an animal is no fun, but never knowing who is strong and who is weak is no fun either because you can never make immunological progress.

Interestingly, government-sanctioned organic certification takes no position on vaccination. Nor does it take a position on the now genetically-manipulated mRNA counterpart. The livestock industry began substituting mRNA for old-style vaccines in poultry about 10 years ago, in pork about 5 years ago, and in beef about 2 years ago. Yes, it’s in the supermarket meat counter. And organic certification does not prohibit its use nor does it need to go on any label.

Two more things. Polyface does purchase some young animals from others. We know one piggie supplier (we don’t birth piggies; we buy weaned piggies and raise them up for you to enjoy as bacon and pork chops) does use an old-style vaccine in his sows, not his piglets. Some of the weaned calves we purchase have some old-style vaccines. We would love to get vaccine-free completely from these guys, but we fight one battle at a time. Nobody uses mRNA.

Finally, what about these vaccinated critters? We realize we’re being ultra-transparent here and opening ourselves up for backlash, but hang in there. First, they are all very young. And the regimen is only one or two, not 60-couple like humans are now supposed to get. If childhood vaccinations had never gone beyond what they were in 1950, the anti-vax movement may have never gotten a footing. The cocktail seems to be what is most deadly, and none of the baby pigs or weanling calves we buy from hand-picked farms are subjected to multi-injections. It’s more like things were in 1950, before autism, food allergies, and ADHD.

Let’s finish with a quick look at detox. How does nature detox? The number one agent is chlorophyll. Guess what’s in grass, clover, herbs, and weeds? Chlorophyll. Lots of it. Because all our animals enjoy a life on and with access to green salad (fresh pasture) the chlorophyll gradually works its detox magic and by the time these animals grow into maturity and we harvest them, they’ve had copious amounts of greens. Nature offers a way to cleanse. When animals spend their lives in a factory farm, devoid of green material, the toxins build up rather than excrete.

The calves born to our cows (brood cows) never receive a vaccine. Ditto the lambs. Ditto the chickens and pigs, although the chicks we buy for broilers (meat) and some of the piglets come from parents who were vaccinated, so that’s one generation removed.

We hope this open-handed treatment of a touchy subject helps your understanding and gives you a bit of the back story behind the short statement “Polyface does not use vaccines of any type.” Thank you for your interest and loyalty in healing the land one bite at a time. Your children thank you.

- Joel Salatin

Why Good Food Costs More - and Why It Matters

Many people wonder why foods grown with care for the land, animals, and farmers often cost more than the industrial options that line grocery store shelves. It’s an important and honest question, and it deserves a thoughtful answer. Let’s start with the basics: food affects everything. Our health, our communities, and the land that sustains us are all tied to how food is produced. Unfortunately, problems begin when the cheapest foods tend to be the most processed, the most subsidized, and the most aggressively marketed. It's easy to feel boxed into these choices, especially when you look at the price tag. But sometimes, and for lots of folks, it's easy to forget that those cheap foods come with a much higher price tag later on, whether it's just how we feel as processed foods affect our bodies, or the bills that stack up after doctor's visits. I know that after I eat ultra-processed foods (often full of unspecified additives, dyes, stabilizing ingredients, etc.), I don't feel great. I'm so thankful to say that I grew up eating mostly grass-fed beef. As a child, I remember wondering why "grocery store" beef was so different and "yucky". (I just thought only my grandpa could raise good beef.) As I've spent the last decade and a half eating mostly pastured chicken and pork, too, I can tell a definite difference when I do eat less "expensive", commercially raised foods. My grandpa definitely raised good beef, but I've realized now that it was his methods that made all the difference. Sustainably raised, grass-fed, pastured meat is meat that is being raised as it was intended to be, and therefore, it can do for our bodies what it was intended to do: nourish, fill, and bless. When I make better choices with my meals, I'm less tired, experience fewer mood swings, don't get hungry again as soon, experience less brain fog, and have fewer stomach and digestive issues. I've realized that the true price of food is how it affects my body and makes me feel. I can choose foods that come with a 'price tag,' and will help me to feel my best, or I can choose food with a hidden cost later on, as it takes a toll on my body.At Polyface, we have a simple belief: when animals live the way they’re designed to live, they, the land, and the people who eat from it thrive. Compared to conventional, industrially raised meat, regeneratively raised, grass-fed meat offers: Healthier fat profiles — Cattle and poultry raised on diverse pastures often contain more omega-3s and fewer inflammatory omega-6 fats than animals fed grain in confinement. Higher micronutrient density — Pasture-raised meats and eggs contain more vitamins A, D, and E, along with minerals like iron and selenium—thanks to clean sunlight, fresh grasses, and good exercise. Cleaner food with fewer inputs — Animals raised on pasture don’t require routine antibiotics, growth promotants, or chemical inputs that are standard in confinement systems. Food that nourishes more with less — Nutrient-dense food tends to be more satisfying, meaning people often feel full sooner and stay full longer. These aren’t abstract ideals. They’re real, biological outcomes from raising animals on living landscapes rather than in industrial warehouses. At Polyface, we consciously invest in people and animals—not gadgets, not chemicals, not complex machinery that distances the farmer from the land. Instead of giant tractors, Polyface invests in skilled team members who know how to read the land, interpret animal behavior, and respond with nuance and care. Human eyes, human hands, and human intuition cannot be replaced by equipment if the goal is health and regeneration. Instead of confinement buildings that require ventilation systems, antibiotics, and elaborate waste-handling equipment, Polyface invests in animals raised outdoors in fresh air and sunshine, rotated across pasture so they can express their natural design (while fertilizing the soil). Instead of relying on chemical crutches, Polyface invests in biological solutions like rest periods for grass, multi-species grazing, composting systems, and portable shelters. These things help us follow natural patterns rather than fight them. This kind of farming is people-intensive. It’s observation-intensive. It’s relationship-intensive. It's a very different type of farming than what is most often seen or illustrated. So, why does this matter? You don’t have to raise chickens or move cattle across pastures to be part of this work. Honest, regenerative farming is a partnership between the growers and the eaters. Every time you choose food raised with care and transparency, you cast a vote for the kind of world you want: A world where animals live in a way that honors their design. A world where farmers can make a living without compromising their values. A world where the land becomes healthier, more fertile, and more resilient each year. A world where food strengthens bodies instead of breaking them down. When you choose Polyface, you become part of this regenerative story. You help restore soils, revive rural communities, and support a type of agriculture that heals instead of harms. You help build a food system rooted in transparency, nutrition, stewardship, and hope. I've heard it said that the path forward begins with honest conversation and mutual learning. The same holds true for moving toward better food and better farming. Thank you for asking hard questions and caring enough to look deeper. We want to stay accountable, curious, and committed to improving what we do. Whenever you’re able, the Salatins welcome you to the farm so you can see these principles in action for yourself. I always tell people that there’s nothing quite like walking the pastures, watching the animals, and witnessing regeneration firsthand. Together as farmers, families, and communities, we can cultivate a future where food nourishes everything it touches: the land beneath our feet, the animals in our care, and the people around our tables. I like the sound of that future, don't you? Hannah

mRNA and Vaccines

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