Agriculture and Environment: Beef
Better Management Practices: Less Fat and Leaner Meat
The advent of feed grains in the cattle industry coincided with a growth in the market demand for marbled qualities of fat-laced meat.
This demand has declined, at least in some areas, and there is now a shift to less fatty meats. Fewer starches from cattle make cattle less prone to developing fatty meats. This means that feed that has less corn and soybeans and more fibrous and woody materials is preferred.
Feed rich in fibres, low on starch
Thus, grasses, canes, and other materials rich in fibres but lower in starches can be increased in the feed. This will tend to result in corresponding changes in land used to produce feeds. Many of these materials can be produced on the farm. This is better for wildlife and wildlife habitat for two reasons.
It reduces the pressure for greater areas to be converted to grain production to feed beef cattle, and it increases the amount of pasture areas seeded with more fibrous or woody year-round grazing plants. Such plants not only reduce soil erosion, they are also better sources of food and habitat for wildlife.
Exercise regularly!Finally, in addition to dietary changes, exercise is key to health and appetite. Exercise promotes more muscled meat as well as healthier animals that get sick less often and require fewer antibiotics, but animals should be worked slowly and quietly.
Crews should use hand signals rather than talking loudly or shouting. Increasing the area of feedlots and rotating feeding in different parts encourages exercise and produces healthier animals. Many of these principles are difficult with a greater number of animals, however.
Credits
Extracts from "World Agriculture & Environment" by Jason Clay - buy the book online from Island Press
