Grass-Fed Beef: Better For The Planet And You
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The nutritional benefits of grass-fed beef (What wine goes well with beef?) are well-documented. But is it really better for the planet as well?
Texas is well-known for its beef production. The state is responsible for producing more beef than any other state in the country. Historically, most of Texas's beef has come from grain-fed cows. However, in recent years there has been a growing interest in grass-fed beef. But what's the difference between these two types of beef?
Conventional grain-fed beef comes from cattle typically fed a diet of grains like corn and soy. These cows are often kept in crowded feedlots, where they may be given antibiotics (almost a certainty) to prevent disease.
97% of cattle in the United States are grain-fed. This widely used production method can be inefficient because it takes as much as 4 to 20 pounds of grain to make just one pound of beef. We could be using this grain to feed humans, but instead, we're feeding it to cattle and getting very little food out in return. Which technically makes this type of beef production a protein factory in reverse. Some consider it a waste of resources, and the numbers have shown that the technique may not be sustainable in the long run.
There is a need to find a better way to raise more efficient cattle that don't require so much grain. Otherwise, we will continue to have a lot of wasted food and resources.
Grass-fed beef, on the other hand, comes from cows that are allowed to graze on pasture land. This means that their diet is mostly grass, with some hay or other forage thrown in. The state's warm climate and vast grasslands create ideal conditions for raising cattle. And, as any Texas rancher will tell you, grass-fed beef is not only nutritious, but it's also a better option
for the planet.
Grass-fed beef is higher in healthy omega-3 fatty acids and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and lower in unhealthy saturated fats. It's also more humane since cows raised on pasture have a more natural lifestyle. And since grass-fed beef production doesn't require as much grain, it can be less damaging to the environment.
Find out more about the production of Grass-Fed Beef and How It's Different as TexasRealFood helps you get familiar with this topic.
Environmental Impact of Beef Production
The average American diet includes a significant amount of beef. However, through the years, studies have shown several problems with the environmental impact of beef production, especially with grain-fed beef.
The most significant environmental impact of grain-fed beef is the amount of greenhouse gasses produced. Cattle raised on grain-based diets emit more methane than their grass-fed counterparts, and methane is a potent greenhouse gas. In addition, the agricultural production of grain for cattle feed requires significant amounts of water and energy, further contributing to the environmental impact of grain-fed beef. There are also several animal welfare concerns associated with grain-fed beef production.
Did you know that cattle are not well-suited to digesting grain? And as a result, they often suffer from health problems such as liver disease, heart disease, and respiratory problems. Moreover, the use of antibiotics in grain-fed beef production creates the perfect conditions for antibiotic-resistant bacteria to develop. These superbugs can cause serious illness in humans and are increasingly becoming a global public health threat.
The growing demand for beef puts pressure on agricultural resources and contributes to deforestation and land degradation. Aside from these, the environmental impact of beef production on the environment has caused detrimental effects on biodiversity and the atmosphere.
Beef Production Causing Deforestation
As the global demand for beef continues to rise, so does the pressure on farmers to increase production. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in deforestation, as more and more land is cleared to make way for cattle pastures. The consequences of this are devastating. Deforestation is a major global problem, and cattle ranching is one of the leading causes.
Forests play a vital role in regulating the earth's climate, and their destruction releases vast amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. This contributes to global warming, which significantly impacts our planet. Flooding, droughts, wildfires, and extreme weather conditions are becoming more common. We can expect this trend to continue if we don't do something to stop it.
Beef Production Causing Land Degradation
The effects of beef production on our land availability and soil health are devastating. Industrialized livestock production uses a significant amount of land surface, meaning less land is available for other purposes, such as growing crops. The overuse of antibiotics in feedlots also contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can contaminate the soil and water around the farm.
The waste produced by beef production is another major source of pollution. It can leach into the soil, damaging plant life and making it difficult for new seedlings to take root. In addition, the large-scale clearing of land for beef production destroys native habitats and disrupts local ecosystems. As a result, beef production has a tremendously detrimental impact on our land availability and soil health.
Biodiversity Loss Due to the Beef Industry
The beef industry is one of the leading causes of deforestation, as vast tracts of land are cleared to make way for pastures and feedlots. This loss of habitat is contributing to the decline of many species of animals and plants, as well as the loss of vital ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and pollination.
Acid Rain Caused by Beef Production
Acid rain occurs when emissions from factories and cars react with the atmosphere, causing a build-up of sulfuric and nitric acid in the clouds. When these clouds eventually release their water as rain, the resulting precipitation can be highly acidic, causing damage to crops, buildings, and even human health. The beef industry is a significant contributor to acid rain, as cattle farms are responsible for large amounts of methane and nitrous oxide emissions.
The truth is that the way we produce and consume our food is one of the most significant contributors to our changing climate. Regenerative agriculture creates practical, viable, scalable, and financially sustainable alternatives to conventional agriculture. So let's eat, farm, and grow better; remember the earth we came from, and listen to her guiding principles.
Beef Production and Global Warming
Regarding global warming, cattle are often singled out as one of the major culprits. However, studies show that beef production is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions. Beef produces more greenhouse gas emissions than any other food, releasing an average of 110lb (50kg) greenhouse gasses for every 3.5oz of protein. Most of these emissions come from methane, a much more potent gas than carbon dioxide.
Methane gas, which is released by cattle through belching and flatulence, is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
However, it's essential to understand that not all cattle are responsible for releasing methane gas. In fact, how cattle are managed on the land has the most significant impact on methane emissions. The livestock's methane emissions come from Enteric fermentation - when microorganisms in their stomach break down food. This process produces methane gas, which is then released into the atmosphere.
When cattle graze freely on grasslands, they tend to produce less methane gas than when confined to feedlots and fed grain-based diets. In addition, pasture-based systems generally result in healthier soils, which can help sequester carbon and offset some methane emissions from livestock. As a result, how we manage our cattle significantly impacts their contribution to global warming.
San Antonio is a sprawling city that is home to a multitude of butcher shops. If you're in and around the area, you have to check out these San Antonio butcher shops, which all sell fresh or dry-aged grass-fed beef and other kinds of meats.
Water Use and Beef Production
Americans, on average, eat approximately 222 pounds of beef per year. But, while beef is a staple of the American diet, few people know how much water it takes to produce a single pound of meat. A single cow can drink up to 50 gallons (189 liters) of water per day. So it takes approximately 1,847 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef — that's enough water to fill 39 bathtubs to the top.
When compared to other common foods, beef requires significantly more water to produce. For example, it takes only 216 gallons of water to make 1 pound of chicken and 576 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of milk. With the global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, it is essential to find ways to produce food with fewer resources.
There are several ways to reduce the impact of beef production on the environment, including improving grazing practices, feed efficiency, and manure management.
Seeking to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system, Slow Food USA reconnects Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils, and waters that produce our food.
Animal Health and Grass-Fed Beef
Cows are natural grazers, and their stomachs are designed to digest grass. However, many cattle farms feed their animals a grain diet to fatten them up more quickly. This diet is very harmful to cows, as it can lower the pH of their stomachs to a highly acidic level. This can lead to fermentation bacteria, which sickens the cows and requires them to be treated with antibiotics. In addition, cows on grain diets are often given hormones to speed up fattening. This further degrades their health and has been linked to several health problems in humans who consume meat from these animals.
E. Coli
Cattle that are raised on pasture have a healthier stomach than those that are fed grain. This is because the pH balance of grass-fed cows is a healthy pH of 7, which means the animal can fight off offending microbes, such as E. coli. Additionally, when the cattle are raised entirely on pasture, they're not exposed to the diseases and microbes found in feedlots. As a result, grass-fed beef is generally healthier.
As we've all observed, industrial farming does more harm than good because of the unsustainable and inhumane methods of raising livestock. That is especially true here in Texas, where cattle raising has gone on from generation to generation. In addition, this method of unsustainable farming has adversely affected wildlife and plant life throughout the Lone Star State.
Animal Welfare and Grass-Fed Beef
Animal welfare is a complex and often contentious issue. There are many different ways to define the "humane" treatment of animals and even more opinions on what is and is not acceptable. However, there is one key factor that everyone can agree on: the welfare of farm animals should be a priority.
One way to ensure that animals are treated humanely is to buy meat products certified by an accredited welfare body. These organizations set strict standards for the care of farm animals and regularly inspect facilities to ensure that these standards are being met.
In the spirit of TexasRealFood's recent collaboration with the American Grassfed Association, we want to provide you with 7 farms in the Austin area providing grass-fed beef for pickup and farmers’ markets that sell them.
Summary: Taking Action
Consequently, there are several good reasons to choose grass-fed beef over grain-fed beef. Not only is grass-fed beef better for the environment, but it is also healthier for both cattle and humans.
Switching to a grass-fed diet can help to reduce your carbon footprint. In addition, buying beef from local farms can further reduce your impact on the environment by eliminating the need for long-distance transportation.
By buying certified meat products, you can be confident that the animals were raised in a safe and healthy environment. In addition to supporting the humane treatment of animals, buying certified meat products also has other benefits. For example, many welfare-certified farms use sustainable practices that help to protect the environment. In addition, these farms typically provide better working conditions for employees and pay fair wages. As a result, buying certified meat products is suitable for the animals and good for the planet and the people who live on it.
Get your booze on this weekend and gorge on one of these perfect Texas wine and grass-fed beef combos. Nothing complements a glass of red better than a delicious cut of grass-fed beef. Texas-raised, of course!
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