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Grass-fed cows gain weight more slowly, so they produce more methane per unit of meat produced. However, it can be argued that grass fed cattle farming is a net
by Cryptoclysm 5y ago
Grass-fed cows gain weight more slowly, so they produce more methane per unit of meat produced. However, it can be argued that grass fed cattle farming is a net positive for Greenhouse emissions, since the carbon captured by the larger pastures can offset the effect of the methane emissions from the cattle. In some cases the entire farm's operational emmisions could be offset. Note that this is climate dependent. [1]
It is important also to note that if the land were instead used for growing crop for human consumption, then the carbon capture effect would be far higher, and that generally grass fed beef in the US are fed grain in the final months before slaughter. Other factors like water usage of cattle farming per calorie produced compared to human consumed crop can put even grass fed cattle farming in a bad light.
[1]: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/08/13/746576239/is-grass-fed-beef-really-better-for-the-planet-heres-the-science?t=1621777264666 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/08/13/746576239/is...
- pkphilip 5y agoCattle/livestock is also used for improving the quality/fertility of the soil for growing crops. It drastically reduces the need for harmful fertlizers, the need to till the land as much (reducing diesel usage) etc.. Also, the milk and meat is a nice bonus.
- loceng 5y agoThe Sacred Cow documentary is worth watching which goes into detail of this cycle - including that a lot (most?) crops use animal manure for fertilizing, so you still need the animals.
- pkphilip 5y agoApart from that, livestock grazing has been used effectively to fight desertification by Allan Savory and others. https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/reversing-desertification-with-livestock https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/reversing-desertification-with-l...
- aww_dang 5y agoThere's a large amount of range land which is impractical for farming. However, it is suited for grazing. It was used for bison before domestic cattle. If we conclude that bovine grazing is harmful, should we conclude that exterminating the American bison was green?