We do NOT use mRNA Vaccines on our Livestock

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April 23, 2023

Before I start this email I want to thank you, our customers.

Thank you for being an informed consumer.

Thank you for caring about your health.

Thank you for caring about your food.

This is why we are here, because of people like you who take the time to learn and refuse to accept standard conventional food; even though it is advertised as a cheap way to get fed. You know better.

Recently, there have been a lot of questions surrounding the mRNA vaccine in the livestock industry. This has many of our customers rightfully concerned and we are glad you are not afraid to ask the question.

To be clear: We are NOT using mRNA vaccines on our livestock. PERIOD.

At this time mRNA vaccines aren't even available for cattle. It is possible they are available for the pork industry. But, remember, those who are quick to adopt new pharmaceutical advances are typically large confinement operations, because they are trying to fight new diseases that immerge in the confinement industry. We are open range.

Are we incredibly wary of new things coming from the pharmaceutical industry? You bet!

Is everything that the pharmaceutical industry producing terrible? No.

In fact there are several vaccines in the cattle industry that have been around for 60 years plus that have been proven to be very effective against certain diseases, such as blackleg vaccine (a tetanus-like disease). They have also given us life-saving antibiotics.

But, all medicine has a double edge sword: antibiotics were originally used to save an animal that was on the verge of death, but now in many confinement operations antibiotics are given in small doses, all of the time, with the theory of ensuring that these animals never get sick. So, what once was a medicine used in dire circumstances is now abused.

As stewards of our animals we are faced with risk decisions every day, and very few of these decisions are black and white. But, we pray for guidance and wisdom to make sure we make the correct decisions for the health of our animals and the people who consume them.

We personally would never want to use anything on our cattle that does not have a long-time track record of proven safety and effectiveness. We can firmly say we would not use any vaccines or medicines that have any chance of adversely affecting the health of our cattle, our customers, or our family. This means we will NOT use mRNA vaccines for our cattle when they come out!

Once again, thank you for trusting us to provide your family with Meat You Can Trust.

Full 2026: Series on The Big Grass Fire "It Starts with a Spark!"

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Standing Together During the Big Grass Fire When wildfires threaten our communities, they don’t stop to ask whose land they’re on. They move quickly, changing lives in a matter of hours. But in rural communities like ours, something else moves just as quickly—neighbors stepping up to help neighbors. As the Big Grass Fire continues to impact parts of Idaho and Oregon, Sean Cunningham of Cunningham Pastured Meats has joined countless ranchers, volunteers, firefighters, and first responders working tirelessly to support those directly affected. But, in spite of the effort to mitigate the damages, the devastation is real to life and property. While the Cunningham ranch has not been directly impacted by the fire, Sean has been spending long days assisting neighboring ranchers whose grazing lands, livestock, fences, and livelihoods have been threatened. Whether helping protect cattle, building fire lines, moving equipment, or supporting firefighting efforts wherever needed, the work reflects something deeply rooted in ranching culture: when one neighbor is hurting, everyone shows up. With but a brief reunion with Sean after his 3 days of fire service. As you can imagine, while Sean is all smiles to finally be home for some much-needed rest, tears were shed by the littles in his reunion with the family! As many of you know, Liz and Sean, while still only in their late 30s, have seven children and one on the way. To date, Liz and Sean have spent days apart, each taking on the role in their own capacity against the fires. Sean on the dozer in the field and Liz capturing the story in a digital war to garner the attention of news agencies like KTVB7, the Lt. Governor's office, the White House, electric company CEOs and others for much needed assistance and support for the communities who are now at the mercy of a rogue grass fire, The Big Grass Fire and simultaneous fires stretching thousands of acres throughout the Jordan Valley and beyond. That spirit of service and capitalizing on each person's strengths to wage the war against the fires is nothing new to ranchers. Across the West, ranchers have long been among the first to respond when wildfire strikes. Their knowledge of the land, equipment, water sources, and terrain often makes them invaluable partners alongside local, state, and federal fire crews. Many volunteer through Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, organizations that have become an essential part of wildfire response throughout Oregon and Idaho. These partnerships help firefighters respond more quickly while protecting communities, grazing lands, wildlife habitat, and homes. For ranching families, these fires aren’t simply headlines—they’re deeply personal. A single fire can erase years of stewardship, destroy fencing, eliminate forage needed to feed cattle, and disrupt generations of hard work. Yet even in the face of tremendous loss, ranchers continue helping one another because that’s simply what neighbors do. We are incredibly grateful to every firefighter, volunteer, dispatcher, law enforcement officer, ranch family, and community member working around the clock to protect lives and property. Their courage and commitment remind us that the strength of rural communities isn’t measured only by the land we steward—it’s measured by the people willing to stand together when it matters most. Please continue keeping the families directly affected by these fires in your thoughts and prayers. Recovery will take time, but our communities have always been built on resilience, compassion, and a willingness to lend a hand. As of Wednesday July 29, 2026 at 8 am the non-official update includes official agencies holding the line with the yellow circles area in the image below a wild card. With potential winds pushing north again, critical barriers may not be enough to hold the fire from encroaching on Silver City. The blue circled area on a post seen here with images is the most difficult to manage, with juniper trees, canyons, and rock formations making it difficult terrain to navigate intervention and support. See more details and images here From all of us at Cunningham Pastured Meats and Cliff’s Country Market, thank you to everyone serving on the front lines and behind the scenes. We are honored to stand alongside a community that continues to embody the very best of what it means to be neighbors helping neighbors. We continue to remain steadfast in prayer in the midst of a very active and devastating fire season.Watch Sean's interview with KTVB news.

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We do NOT use mRNA Vaccines on our Livestock

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