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Which beef is" greener"?

Faster horses

Well-known member
WHICH BEEF IS “GREENER”?
Much has been said about adverse effects on the environment from using
grain to feed livestock. This is challenged by a recent report from the
Hudson Institute Center for Global Food Issues. The Center used an Iowa
State University beef production model (cowherd to carcass) and greenhouse
gas emissions estimates from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change. Based on the analysis, beef produced under the prevailing
method in the U. S. (grain finishing, with growth promotants) required
two-thirds less land and produced 40% less greenhouse gas emissions than
organic grass-fed beef. Also, the use of growth promotants required about
20% less land than grain finishing without growth promotants. The report
notes that growth promotants have been found to be safe and produce a
wholesome product by the Food and Drug Administrations of both the U. S.
and Canada, the World Trade Organization, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the
European Agriculture Commission. The full report can be viewed at
http://www.cgfi.org/pdfs/nofollow/beef-eco-benefits-paper.pdf

America knows how to produce a great product and be great caretakers of the
land.
 

RobertMac

Well-known member
Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Accepting the biggest hoax perpetuated on humanity(man-made global warming) to defend their drug company profits!!!! Best "sound science" money can buy!!!!!!!
 

John SD

Well-known member
I think with the current price of corn and other grain based feeds grass fed beef will become more attractive.

I've been saving the smallest steers I have to finish for a guy to butcher. The steers don't get pushed as hard as they would in a feedlot situation. I feed them right along with my replacement heifers as calves and to finish.

I got this year's steer in off grass alone the first of the year, fed with my replacement heifer calves, and hauled to the butcher shop Feb 16. So the steer only had about 6 weeks worth of moderate corn/DDG supplemented diet before slaughter and weighed 1135 lbs on the hoof.

I think maybe from now on I'm going to pick the largest steer and keep them with my other background steers calves after weaning. More forage, less grain. So I need to start with a larger older steer in the first place.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Oh, and that older beef tastes sooooo good, John.
I think killing cattle at such a young age, the meat doesn't have a chance to get that real good flavor that comes with older animals.

BTW, I didn't write that article, I just posted it...cuz I wanted to see the reaction. :wink:
 

BRG

Well-known member
The buzz word these days is grass fed. My questions is this, where is all this extra grass going to come from? All the ground is already being used, and lots of the pastures east of here are now getting turned over and planted to wheat, corn, or beans. So where does everyone expect the extra grass to come from?
 

John SD

Well-known member
You're right BRG. When the reality of fewer cow numbers caused by stockers being on grass longer happens, I hope that phenomenon brings us higher beef prices.

I'm still rebuilding my herd and am now at about 50% of my pre-2002 numbers of cows. I won't ever get back to my former cow numbers if I keep my steers to background and sell as yearlings. Last year I sold my Hereford steers as 10weight yrls in mid August.

Right now I take in 60 pairs for summer. This is likely the last year of that if I keep more steers over winter for grass.
 

Juan

Well-known member
RobertMac said:
Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Accepting the biggest hoax perpetuated on humanity(man-made global warming) to defend their drug company profits!!!! Best "sound science" money can buy!!!!!!!

RIGHT ON
 

CRS

New member
How can it be more efficient to combine the corn, haul it to the feedlot, feed it to the calves, and haul their manure back out to the field, when the other choice would be to let the calves eat the corn (or grass) in the field?
 
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