As many of you no doubt know, the raising of cattle accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than automobiles. This has led many greens to go vegan. However, as I detailed in a previous post, despite popular misconceptions, veganism is likely to result in negative health effects. So, I decided to do some further investigating. I am well aware that most cows are corn fed their entire lives. Corn is unnatural diet for cows and is the main reason commercial beef is so unhealthy (also discussed in my earlier post). Since one of the main reasons raising cattle leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions is their methane emissions, I immediately wondered if cows on their natural diet of grass would fare differently. According to the Institute for Environmental Research and Education, "Although an animal raised on pasture actually produces more methane...the pasture itself reduces the CO2 in the air through a process called 'carbon sequestration.'" This sequestration is no small thing. According to a new study from Duke University:
"Grasses are deceptively productive," says lead investigator Robert Jackson. "You don't see where all the carbon goes, so there is a misconception that woody species [such as trees and shrubs] store more carbon. That's just not the case." Grasses store vast amounts of carbon in their underground root mass.
Raising cattle on grass is one way to make it financially feasible to expand our native grasslands. Although cows generate their own greenhouse gasses, the net effect of raising ruminants on pasture is to slow global warming.
Yes, you read that right. Cattle raised on grass have a net negative effect on greenhouse gas emissions. This doesn't just lead to less emissions than before, it reduces the total emissions below zero. Now, granted, planting grasses and getting rid of cows would do even more, but let's be reasonable. That just ain't gonna happen. I suggest if you want to make the best compromise between your personal health and the health of the planet, eat only small amounts of beef and eat only grass-fed or wild animals. Some might consider this a sellout, but I am totally convinced by overwhelming evidence that I am not wrong on the health issue. The issue of sustainability is complex. It is not just about the environment. If we cannot get our healthcare system under control, we will have an unsustainable economy and everyone will suffer. The only way we are going to reduce healthcare costs is by changing our lifestyles. Eating right is an important component of being green, and simplistic analyses of the issues will not help us achieve the best solutions.
Keywords: carbon sequestration, corn, global warming, grass-fed beef, greenhouse gases, methane, veganism