4 D Acres

 Emuversatile, Emutasty, Emulicious,

These are just a few words, albeit made up, to describe the versatility of emu meat. Here at 4 D Acres, we have found that emu is such a mild tasting meat that it can easily be adapted to a variety of recipes that call for beef, pork, chicken or turkey. Without a heavy gamey taste that you might expect, the emu meat’s mildness allows it to work well with a large variety of seasonings and ingredients. Here is our adaptation of a chorizo recipe that we found on the internet. It originally called for ground pork, so we substitute ground emu meat for the pork. It is a snap to mix together, and just takes minutes to cook through. Lower heats are recommended to avoid a tough chew.  

Homemade Emu Chorizo  

This is great in a breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs and salsa in a flour or corn tortilla.  

1 lb ground emu
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. red Chile powder (cayenne)
1 lg clove garlic (mashed)
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar  

Mix all ingredients together then add to the emu meat, blend with fork. To cook: Use either a non stick skillet or a fry pan lightly coated with vegetable oil spray. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring continuously until lightly browned. Drain off liquid. (We put the cooked meat mixture in a bowl, cover it, then refrigerate and eat the next day. This gives the flavors time to meld.)

For scrambled eggs and chorizo: Add 2 tbsp. meat mixture per each beaten egg and scramble. Remaining mixture can be used in a salad, taco, meat/bean/cheese burrito, etc.
Vinegar and cayenne can be adjusted according to taste. The vinegar counters the effects of the heat, so adjust vinegar down and cayenne up for spicier sausage. Enjoy!

  Here's a quote from a family friend after she tried our homemade emu chorizo:

“This is good and I don’t have to add my hot sauce.” Becky Gomez

We are certain that you’ll find this recipe a welcome addition to your healthy lifestyle, especially if you love chorizo but don’t like the heavy oil content of pork chorizo. Emu meat is classified as poultry and is lower in fat and cholesterol than chicken and even turkey. It has a flavor similar to beef and can be used in any dishes that call for beef.

For more recipes, check out the Official Cookbook of the American Emu Association available on our website.

 

So, what's cooking in your kitchen?

While there is no snow currently on the ground at 4 D Acres, and there has only been a light dusting of snow earlier this winter, we wanted to share the answer to what is a common question in the winter.The question is regarding emus in the snow, although often phrased in terms of comfort, behavior, or special needs.

The snow does not actually bother the birds. If it has not snowed in a while, they are leery to walk in it at first, but soon make their way to the open air of their outdoor pens, and are thereafter not affected. We make sure they have adequate shelter available that they can access at will. We have noticed that they will seek shelter when the temperatures are below freezing and there is a strong wind. The emu will often stand, unbothered, under a snowfall until they have a couple of inches on their backs. While their feathers are not waterproof, they do have a layer of fat just under their hides that insulates them and keeps them warm.

One might think that the emu, originating in Australia, might be accustomed to only warm temperatures. It does get quite cold and even snows in Australia. Their seasons just mirror ours. The emu acclimates itself as the temperature changes, but a sudden long-distance transfer of location might disturb them, because of temperature, humidity, air density and air quality factors.

Even when the weather is quite cold, the birds love to be hosed down with water. They are also quite unaffected by any ice accumulation on their feathers. The emus walk carefully when there is ice on the ground. The emu could slip and fall and potentially break a leg if there is ice on the ground, but they seem to manage, walking carefully so as not to slip and slide.

If you were to have a dog and pony show – a travelling circus in the late 19^th, early 20^thcenturies – you’d want your dogs and ponies to be in tip top shape! 4 D Acres can help! It’s no dog trick that you can keep your pet’s coat shiny and healthy by adding emu oil to their diet with just a few drops in their food. The rich emollients in the emu oil also help restore the beauty to their hair when added to your favorite pet shampoo. If your pet has had a real dog day and injured itself, the transdermal properties of the emu oil speed healing and aids in reduced scarring. See what this dog lover has to say about Rusty's Refined Emu Oil.

Our dog ZAPATO is a large black and silver German Shepherd and Lab mix. We were told she was allergic to the saliva in flea bites, so every time she was bitten it caused a large red bump. Her vet put her on medication for 2 months and finally the bumps were gone. But then we had another problem, the medication had left her skin dry as toast, and she had huge white flakes in her fur. It looked like a very bad case of dandruff. What her vet sold me didn't work, and the biting and scratching got worst. Then I remembered buying Rusty's Refined Emu Oil and started using it on her problem areas. It calmed her skin down immediately and gave her much needed relief. Now after 3 weeks here dry skin condition is gone and so are the white flakes. ZAPATO's coat feel like silk and is in beautiful condition. I used a small amount of oil and rubbed it in with my fingers by giving her a puppy massage. Thank you Rusty and Mike - CL & ZAPATO TOO Merriam KS

We’re not horsing around with your ponies either. Does your equine have cracked hooves or open wounds from fences or equipment? Equine Aid is a deep penetrating, non-irritating, highly moisturizing, all natural nutritional supplement to the skin. Keep one in your first aid kit. Don’t take it from us. Check out this reviews by some of our faithful customers.

At the Farm and Ranch Show this week I learned for the first time of emu oil, and the benefits it can have for cuts on horses. I decided to buy some to have on hand, just in case. Unbelievably enough this very Friday our 8 month old filly didn't like that we moved her mother to another location. One of the benefits for doing this was to try to wean the filly. But she panicked tonight and jumped the neighbor's fence that is chain link with a hot wire and barbed wire on top. She received about 6 different very large gashes across her chest and above her leg. I called our vet but could not get a hold of anyone. I thought of the emu oil that I had just purchased. I applied it with a Q-tip, but I wanted to confirm are we supposed to do anything else besides apply it twice a day? How much of it are we supposed to try and get into or onto the cuts? The timing of all this I whole heart believe it's nothing short of a miracle. The Lord's guidance was definitely involved in the decision to purchase the Equine Aide. Thank You, - I. B. Wichita, Kansas

  Just when you thought the show was over:  

I want to thank you for letting me know that the Emu Oil would be safe in treating my cat (Angel's) wound. She was hurt and I found out late in the evening. I noticed she had a lump on her side, when I went to investigate the wound erupted. I cleaned her up and she was not happy. After calling you I put Emu Oil on the wound and the next morning it was healed. What a miracle. I was already convinced you have a great product, but after this it was confirmed beyond belief. I saved a lot of money and worry by using the (Emu) oil and it was easier on Angel. She is not fond of the ride to the vet. Thank you! so so much! - S.T. Shawnee, KS

  So whether you have dogs or ponies or a herd of cats, consider 4 D Acres Emu Oil Products for your pets. Rusty's Refined Emu Oil and Equine Aid are grade B oil, which means that it is refined but does not meet the international trade rules for a grade A oil. Perfect for animal use.

As a small business owner, I do not take for granted that I owe much of my success to other people and small businesses. One particular business comes to mind: The Louisburg Cider Mill, owned by Tom and Shelly Schierman. They were one of my first distributor to carry the 4 D Acres Emu Oil products, and that was fourteen years ago.

Quite the success story themselves, they started the Louisburg Cider Mill in the Fall of 1977 in a restored 120 year old barn. Experiencing what some would call “overnight success” after a Kansas City Star article, they are no strangers to hard work. Known especially for their apple cider (of course!), apple cider donuts (oh so delicious, especially when fresh and hot), Lost Trail sodas, and fruit butters, they are a growing operation as they have added products and attractions through the years. In spite of their growth, their customer service is second to none.

Pick your own pumpkins and watch fresh apple cider being made in the fall, enjoy a cold Lost Trail root beer in the summer, and enjoy shopping in their country store year round for gift baskets, food items, souvenirs, cookware, and of course 4 D Acres Emu Oil products!!

My favorite product is the Refined Emu Oil. I use it on little scaly areas of dry skin that lotion just can't help. One of my employees is certain that the Refined Emu Oil kept her from having a big crater scar after being bit by a brown recluse spider.
~Shelly Schierman

I have found the Louisburg Cider Mill to be huge supporters of other local small businesses. 4 D Acres has participated in their Fall Cider Fest with a display of our products as well as a live emu for the public to see. We have participated with them and other local farms on the Miami County Farm Tour as well. I consider Tom and Shelly to be valuable business friends and community members. They ship anywhere in the US and abroad through their online store or mail order catalog, but if you are ever in the Kansas City area, it is worth it to put the Louisburg Cider Mill on your itinerary.

“We continue today as we began. All of our food products are produced from the finest ingredients available. We guarantee every item in this catalog to you 100% satisfaction. If you are ever not satisfied, just call us and we’ll make it right.”

- Tom & Shelly Schierman

Here is a great video from YouTube from a FoodNetwork special done on the Cider Mill.

Interested in becoming a 4 D Acres Emu Oil distributor? Email me at mike@4dacres.com or call 877.837.4119.

I’m not talking about product delivery with Priority or Express Mail. I’m not talking about the fact that the emu bird can easily run 35 to 40 miles per hour.  I am talking about the transdermal qualities of the emu oil.

Transdermal is a term that is used throughout my website, catalog, brochures and blog, and I thought it might be a good idea to explain just what that means to you as a consumer. Transdermal means that it quickly penetrates into the deeper layers of your skin instead of remaining strictly on the surface. The highly transdermal properties of emu oil contribute to the quick delivery of healing components.

According to an article by Dr. Frank Orthoefer, called “Looking Into Emu Oil”, the beneficial biological properties of emu oil were substantiated by the research of noted scientist and investigator, Dr. Robert Nicolosi of the University of Massachusetts. Emu oil was found to have significant  cholesterol lowering, anti-inflammatory and transdermal characteristics. These findings were pivotal because until then, the qualities of emu oil were based largely on testimonials and anecdotal evidence and not cold hard scientific facts.

Our skin consists of 3 primary layers, the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Both the epidermis and dermis have several layers themselves which provide different functions. One of the primary functions of the epidermis is to protect your body from bacteria and infection. For this reason, it does not easily absorb just any liquid. Think about when you wash your hands. Your hands are not absorbing water while you wash.

For this reason, many lotions on the market today are more topical, meaning they remain in the outermost layers of the skin. Lotions and otherremedies containing emu oil penetrate deeper into your skin to provide longer lasting moisture and healing. Emu oil alone is a fantastic remedy for cuts and burns because of its anti-inflammatory and transdermal properties.

One of the most amazing findings in recent years has been the treatment of non-healing wounds such as bed sores, burns, and diabetes related ulcers, among others. Because of the transdermal properties of the emu oil, it can be added to other applications to deliver vitamins, anti-oxidants and antibiotics to the wound, while reducing inflammation.  According to an EMAILWIRE.COM article from July of 2008, Dr. Robert Winston is excited about how emu oil has changed treatment options for his patients, saying, “using a transdermal delivery system allows antibiotic dosage 40 to 60 times greater than achieved by IV administration, without the danger of liver or kidney damage.” He is a Board Certified Practitioner of Internal Medicine and has practiced medicine for over 25 years.

For more information on emu oil products and their beneficial properties visit the 4 D Acres Emu Oil and Emu Factswebsites.