Beef environment cost 10 times that of other livestock (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, BBC News

A new study suggests that the production of beef is around 10 times more damaging to the environment than any other form of livestock.

Scientists measured the environment inputs required to produce the main US sources of protein.

Beef cattle need 28 times more land and 11 times more irrigation water than pork, poultry, eggs or dairy.

The research has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

While it has long been known that beef has a greater environmental impact than other meats, the authors of this paper say theirs is is the first to quantify the scale in a comparative way.
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more: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28409704




Go ahead, tell me all about the virtues of range-fed beef .... AFTER you've searched for the terms "nitrogen" and "greenhouse" in the article.

[Kali]

1. the article does not differentiate range grown from cfo production

I would need to see the actual paper, but I suspect the figures are mostly based on conventional cfo production. or perhaps a combination of the two. perhaps they took range area for land amounts and feedlots for water/irrigation consumption. that is "legitimate" cherry picking because the majority of animals finished in feedlots actually spent the first 9 to 18 months on some type of range (though some pastures are irrigated, most range is not).

The one factor that always irritates me about comparing animal protein production is the constant ignoring of the fact that true range grown cattle are utilizing a renewable feed source that humans and most other domestic animals can not use at all. cycling grass through a bovine makes some tasty protein that does not approach the huge input that confined feedlots require.

the land that range cattle use is of course larger than a pig or poultry barns, larger than beef feedlots even, but the impact is not comparable, especially if the cattle are well managed. they can in fact be beneficial to the land.

[defacto7]

2. All things in moderation...

Most things these days are not in moderation.

I appreciate your input.. Many things in agriculture that we now understand are damaging to the environment are simply because of corporate ag gone mad. Proper management under control and with the Eco-system in the drivers seat make for a healthier planet and people. That's the way people probably should run their eating habits as well.

[GliderGuider]

3. Not much to add to those two excellent comments. The problem is the production, not the product. nt

[theHandpuppet]

4. K&R