Beef production

By Zoey M.

Everybody these days is talking about how detrimental beef is to the environment. But what does that mean? Methane production, deforestation, and water loss are all problems caused by beef production. Are the cows the real problem or is it the way they are raised and transported? Unfortunately, it’s both.

The first problem is methane. The beef comes from cows, which release methane through burps and farts. Methane, a greenhouse gas, traps a lot of heat in the atmosphere. Cows release 250-500 liters of methane daily, which would equal 154-264 pounds in its lifetime. That is equivalent to the carbon released on a 35-mile trip, from Burlington to Montpelier, with a loaded semi-truck. Livestock contributes to 14.5% of all greenhouse gasses. Many scientists have been researching how to change cows’ diets to have them produce less methane while digesting. A fascinating study showed that mixing seaweed into cow's feed reduced methane emissions by 59%. Some people think grass-fed beef will be the answer to beef's carbon emissions. However, while it does benefit ecosystems and animal welfare, it doesn't have the positive effect on carbon emissions that people thought. Scientists say that people need to stop eating so much beef in general.

Infographic created by Zoey M.

The second problem caused by beef production is deforestation. Cows use 41% of the agricultural land in the US. Globally, people are burning down forests to make more room for the cows. When trees are burned, farmers seize the opportunity to fill the land with cattle. As we know, more cattle means more methane. Another problem with burning down trees is when trees are burned they let out more CO₂ into the air and then there are not as many trees to reduce the CO₂ they are releasing in the air.

The third problem is that cows use so much water. The food they eat needs water to grow, the cows need water to drink, and once the cows are slaughtered they need water to clean the meat. A single hamburger uses a frightening total of 400 to 840 gallons of water to get to your plate. Imagine if a family of four gets burgers, that would be up to 3,360 gallons of water for that one family’s dinner.

Methane production, deforestation, and water loss are only some of the issues caused by livestock production. The bottom line is that fewer cows means fewer greenhouse gasses. Luckily you can help! Studies show that plant-based meat and tofu have a lower carbon footprint than most animal products. According to Ourworldindata, plant-based meat has greenhouse gas emissions that are 10-50 times lower than animal-based products. Even if you don't want to become a vegetarian, just doing a simple meatless Monday program or eating less beef can help out so much. The less beef we want the less they'll provide, thanks to supply and demand. All together we can make a difference! If you or someone you know is interested in becoming vegan or vegetarian, here is a helpful resource.

Works Cited

“7 Reasons Why Meat Is Bad for the Environment.” Greenpeace UK, 4 Apr. 2023, www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/why-meat-is-bad-for-the-environment/.

“Climate Change: Do I Need to Stop Eating Meat?” BBC News, 12 Nov. 2021, www.bbc.com/news/explainers-59232599.

DE;, Johnson KA;Johnson. “Methane Emissions from Cattle.” Journal of Animal Science, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8567486/#:~:text=Ruminant%20livestock%20can%20produce%20250,a%20little%20less%20than%202%25. Accessed 18 May 2023.

EPA, www.epa.gov/snep/agriculture-and-aquaculture-food-thought#:~:text=A%20single%20cow%20produces%20between,(Our%20World%20in%20Data). Accessed 18 May 2023.

“Green Freight Math: How to Calculate Emissions for a Truck Move.” EDF+Business, 6 Apr. 2021, business.edf.org/insights/green-freight-math-how-to-calculate-emissions-for-a-truck-move/#:~:text=Example%3A%20greenhouse%20gas%20calculation%20for%20a%20truck%20move&text=Multiply%201%2C000%20miles%20times%2020,of%20CO2%20per%20ton%2Dmile.

“How to Choose Products to Complement Your Vegetarian Lifestyle.” Advice on Choosing the Best Natural Products to Complement Your Vegetarian Diet | BigGreenSmile.Com, www.biggreensmile.com/article/how-to-choose-products-to-complement-your-vegetarian-lifestyle.aspx. Accessed 25 May 2023.

Plumer, Brad. “The Meat Business, a Big Contributor to Climate Change, Faces Major Tests.” The New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/climate/meat-industry-climate-impact.html.

Tdus. “Cows and Climate Change.” UC Davis, 24 Apr. 2023, www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/making-cattle-more-sustainable.

“The Reasons So Many People Are Becoming Vegetarians: Daily Infographic.” Daily Infographic | Learn Something New Every Day, 28 Dec. 2021, www.dailyinfographic.com/truth-behind-vegetarianism.

TodayShow. “We’re Dietitians. Here Are 10 Plant-Based Foods We Eat Every Week.” TODAY.Com, 30 Dec. 2022, www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/plant-based-food-list-rcna21164.

Torrella, Kenny. “This Is How Much Meat and Dairy Hurt the Climate.” Vox, 1 Feb. 2022, www.vox.com/future-perfect/22905381/meat-dairy-eggs-climate-change-emissions-rewilding.

Wang, George C. “Go Vegan, Save the Planet.” CNN, 9 Apr. 2017, www.cnn.com/2017/04/08/opinions/go-vegan-save-the-planet-wang/index.html.

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