The Consequences of Beef Consumption: Why You Should Care

Cow Farts Are No Laughing Matter

Outline

Background Information Methane Production Problems About Methane

Production Methane Production and

Climate Change Climate Change and Health

Impacts Respiratory Health Impacts What Can Be Done?

Background

58.6 million tons of beef are expected to be produced worldwide in 2014

The United States is the largest consumer of beef worldwide

The demand for beef outside the U.S. continues to grow and may soon outpace production

Worldwide production is expected to double by 2020

Methane Production

A major by product of the beef industry is methane gas: CH4

Cows and beef cattle are “ruminants.” Cows and other ruminants regurgitate their food (creating the cud) and digest it in multiple stomachs.

Through this prolonged digestive process, known as “enteric fermentation,” dairy cows and beef cattle release methane, mostly from burping, but also from farting.

Methane by the Numbers

There is general agreement that livestock farming worldwide is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, producing 80 million metric tons of methane a year, or about 28% of global methane emissions from human-related activities.

At a state level, the roughly 2.2 million cows in confined animal feeding operations in California emit the most greenhouse gas emissions in a state-by-state comparison of U.S. dairy cows, followed by the 1.9 million cows in Wisconsin and the 947,000 cows in New York at #3.

Methane

Researchers in Argentina have strapped plastic tanks to cows’ backs in order to trap and measure the amount of methane each animal produces • A 1200-pound cow

produced 800 to 1000 liters of emissions each day 

• With about 55 million head of cattle grazing on grasslands in its beef industry

The Problem? Meat consumption affects the environment

• According to the Environmental working group (EWG), the production, processing and distribution of meat requires huge outlays of pesticides, fertilizer, fuel, feed and water while releasing greenhouse gases, manure and toxic chemicals into the air and water.

• Red meat is responsible for 10 to 40 times as many greenhouse gas emissions as common vegetables and grains.

Worldwide, between 1971 and 2010, production of meat tripled to around 600 billion pounds while global population grew by 81 percent. The production of meat will increase even more.

Manure

Animal waste releases methane which pollutes our water and air, especially when it is concentrated.

In 2007, U.S. livestock in confined feeding operations generated about 500 million tons of manure a year, three times the amount of human waste produced by the entire U.S. population.

Manure is the fastest growing major source of methane, up 60 percent from 1990 to 2008.

Climate Change

Methane (CH4) is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas emitted in the United States from human activities.

Methane is also emitted by natural sources such as wetlands, leakage from natural gas systems, and the raising of livestock.

Methane's lifetime in the atmosphere is much shorter than carbon dioxide (CO2), but CH4 is more efficient at trapping radiation than CO2.

U.S. Methane emissions

Methane Trend

Emissions and TrendsMethane (CH4) emissions in the United States decreased by 8% between 1990 and 2011, but increased from sources associated with agricultural activities.

Climate Change and Health Impacts

Warmer than average temperatures can lead to: -hotter days -more frequent and longer heat waves -increase in concentrations of unhealthy air and water pollutants

Changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and extreme events could enhance the spread of some diseases.

Increases in the frequency or severity of extreme weather events could increase the risk of dangerous flooding, high winds, and other direct threats to people and property.

Increases in

Heat stroke and dehydration Foodborne pathogens like Salmonella The spread of parasites, bacteria and vector

diseases The number of severe injuries or deaths in

vulnerable populations through indirect means.

Respiratory Impacts

Damaged lung tissue Inflamed airways Decreased lung function There will be changes in allergens meaning, longer

and earlier allergy seasons

Allergic Respiratory Disease

The incidence of allergic respiratory disease and asthma are increasing worldwide

Damage to mucous membrane facilitates access of inhaled allergens into the immune system

Leads to more severe immunoglobulin (IgE) response leading to more allergic respiratory diseases

What can we do?

There are many negative consequences of the beef industry but that doesn’t change the fact that as a society we love our meat

Beef provides a good source of protein and other important nutrients like iron and B12

Studies have shown that to meet targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) globally we need to reduce our consumption by 50%

Elimination: No more hamburgers?

Substitution: Substitute beef/meat with more plant protein

Engineering Controls: Researchers looking into improving animal genetics/feed to reduce

gas / Capturing methane Administrative Controls: Tax

meat / cap & trade / end subsidies for commodity crops like corn

PPE?

Education:

Public awareness campaigns/

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Meatless Mondays

Avoiding meat one day a week on Mondays is a good way to start reducing your overall meat consumption

Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables in place of meats will also help reduce calorie intake, reduce your risk of some cancers and cardiovascular disease and ensure you’re getting plant-based nutrients

www.meatlessmonday.com

Summary

Beef consumption is high (and growing) worldwide

While the industry produces tasty hamburgers for our consumption there are several negative consequences associated with its production

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change which in turn contributes to myriad health effects in humans

Consider reducing your meat consumption and start by going meatless one day a week. When you do eat meat consider the source.

"Cutting the number of ruminant livestock could have additional benefits for food security, human health and environmental conservation involving water quality, wildlife habitat and biodiversity.”

-Pete Smith, University of Aberdeen

References Silverman, Jacob.  "Do cows pollute as much as cars?"  16 July 2007. 

HowStuffWorks.com. http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/methane-cow.htm 20 March 2014.

Hayden, Lisa. “No Fooling: Cow Burps and Farts Contribute to Climate Change” 10 April 2011. Nature.org. http://change.nature.org/2011/04/01/no-fooling-cow-burps-and-farts-contribute-to-climate-change/ 20 March 2014.

“Human Health” 09 September 2013. EPA.gov.<http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/health.html. 20 March 2014.

“Causes of Climate Change” 18 March 2014. EPA.gov. http://epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html 20 March 2014

D'Amato G, Cecchi L, D' Amato M, G Liccardi. Urban Air Pollution and Climate Change as  Environmental Risk Factors of Respiratory  Allergy: An Update. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2010; Vol. 20(2): 95-102 .

Scott-Thomas, Caroline. “Meat Consumption needs 50% reduction to meet climate change target, says researcher” 16 April 2012. foodnavigator-usa.com. <http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/R-D/Meat-consumption-needs-50-reduction-to-meet-climate-change-target-says-researcher.

“Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade”. United States Department of Agriculture. November 2013. http://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/circulars/livestock_poultry.pdf.

“Meatless Monday” 2014. http://www.meatlessmonday.com/about-us/why-meatless/

“Greater emphasis needed on livestock flatulence if we are to save planet,” Wired UK 20 December 2013 http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-12/20/cow-flatulence-destroying-the-planet

References cont. “Tax Meat to Reduce Methane Emissions and Global Warming, Say Scientists,” Eco

Watch 26 December 2013 http://ecowatch.com/2013/12/26/meat-tax-reduce-methane-emissions-global-warming/

Methane Gas Recovery, Wisonsin Public Service.http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/business/methane_gas.aspx

“U.S. touts fruit and vegetables while subsidizing animals that become meat,” Washington Post. 3 October 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/us-touts-fruit-and-vegetables-while-subsidizing-animals-that-become-meat/2011/08/22/gIQATFG5IL_story.html

Questions?