Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - a Beef Story

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - a Beef Story

​Caring for our health and the environment is a sentiment not only carried by consumers, but also by farmers. Farmers and ranchers are not only responsible for producing safe, nutritious food for families across the world, but they are also responsible for being good stewards of the land. It is more important than ever that agriculturalists are utilizing natural resources responsibly and effectively to produce more food to meet the demand of our growing population expected to reach 9 billion by the year 2050. 

The beef industry has taken great measures to improve their agricultural practices over the years. Reducing the use of natural resources is just one step they have taken to do so. With an ongoing commitment to water conservation and quality, farmers and ranchers have reduced the amount of water used to raise beef by 12% in last the last 30 years.  Not only that, but through improved breeding genetics, U.S. cattle producers are able to raise 20% of the world’s beef with less than 10% of the world’s cattle. Improved genetics and farming practices have allowed farmers to produce more food with fewer inputs. 

​Cattle not only provide nutritious beef with 10 essential vitamins and nutrients, including zinc, iron, B-vitamins, and protein, but also a multitude of other uses. The beef industry uses, or “reuses,” every part of the animal, even its manure. Cattle by-products can be found in day to day items such as cosmetics, gelatin, fertilizer, tires, shoes, and medicines. There is an old saying that, “You can use everything on the cow except the moo.” On the contrary, haven’t you ever heard a “moo” ringtone? Yep, you can use it all. 

In many ways, cattle can be considered nature’s natural recyclers. As ruminant animals, cattle’s four compartment stomach allows them to digest plants that humans cannot consume. This may be food by-products such as carrot tops or almond hulls that can be mixed into their feed or other plants grown on rangelands. In fact, about half of the U.S. land area is grazing land not suitable for crop production. Without the use of ruminant livestock it would be of no use as a food source. Cattle and other ruminant livestock are able to turn inedible plants into high quality, nutritious protein for humans. Grazing cattle and other livestock on rangeland is also a tool used to help prevent wildfires by reducing overgrown grasses and forages! 

​A beef life cycle assessment (LCA) shows that between 2005 and 2011 the beef community has had a 7% improvement in environment and social sustainability, proving their commitment to continually advance. At the end of that day, you can feel confident in the beef you serve your families and the family farmers across the nation producing your food while being good stewards of the land.

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Beef Sustainability from BeefFacts

To learn more about the ways the beef community
Reduces, Reuses, and Recycles
visit FactsAboutBeef.com.