what if we got rid of our cows?

[meow mix]

we can then split the agriculture used to feed them.. half for biofuel, half for feeding people healthier foods.

[leftofcool]

1. 5 ranchers on their way here now...........

works for me, but lots of people still love their meat and potatoes.

[meow mix]

4. yikes, they google fast.

they can still have chicken and asparagus!!

[leftofcool]

6. Remember when they tried to sue Oprah? LOL

emphasis on the word "tried"

[newfie11]

15. Ranchers heck, lookout for PETA and HSUS!!

[deadmessengers]

2. But how would you accomplish that?

How do you propose that we get rid of cows? I can't imagine that the people who grow, sell, purchase, and consume beef and dairy products would go along voluntarily.

[fasttense]

3. I would keep the cows and get rid of the steers.

Cows provide milk and all the wonderful products we can obtain from their milk - cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter. Other animals can provide milk but not in the quantities and quality that cow's milk provides. If we got rid of the steers instead and used the feed their meat can easily be replaced by more efficient meat to feed producers such as rabbits, pigs and chickens.

[XemaSab]

12. I was going to vote for the opposite

Cows are usually kept in CAFO's while steers are ranged.

At least here in California, range steers aren't taking land away from other crops, or food away from people. Dairy cows are kept in small, tight operations and fed grain.

[HereSince1628]

5. Udderly ridiculous. This is a progressive board we don't tolerate lactose intolerance!

:silly:

[Vanje]

7. We can keep the cows

Just let them eat grass, instead of forcing grain on them.
Result: Healthier cows. Healthier meat-eaters.

Demand grass-fed meat!


PS. If you're near SW Idaho,or will be passing through, I can fix you up.

[deadmessengers]

11. Oh yeah!

Grass-fed beef is just wonderful stuff. I just had a delivery last weekend - 40 pounds of assorted cuts. The wife and I made burgers with the first pound of ground beef last weekend, and it was definitely worth the added cost. No factory farming, no giant feedlots stocked to the rafters with genetically-modified corn, and no megacorps involved. The person I handed my money last Saturday was the owner and operator of the farm, and you can't hang a price tag on that.

Have you read "The Omnivore's Dilemma?"

[diane in sf]

14. I totally agree, the beef cows run on land that doesn't support growing grains

anyway and the smarter farmers in the lush midwest are growing dairy cattle on grass as well. The prairies supported millions of buffalo and they can support millions of cows and buffalo now with good management.

[The Traveler]

8. Kill all the cows?

Then invite everybody to "The Planet's Last Barbecue and Burger Fest?" :shrug:

[shain from kane]

9. "Beyond Beef" by Jeremy Rifkin is an excellent book that explores these issues.

[razors edge]

10. I have some majic beens, I'll trade you.

[NickB79]

13. Can I still have range-fed buffalo? Mmmmmm.

[eppur_se_muova]

16. Fewer cows --> less methane --> less global warming. nt