Consumer Livestock Production Concerns

Hormones CONCERN – long range effects of hormones fed to animals that might be residual in meat, eggs, milk or other products. Animals can be fed growth hormones to aid in feed efficiency and growth rates. Hormone residue in meat is regulated by the FDA. No more than 1% of human body’s daily production of an implanted hormone is allowed to be present. Products fed to livestock is researched and tested through rigorous standards before it is declared safe by the FDA. Reality – A human will obtain thousands of times the amount of estrogen from a gram of soybean oil than from a gram of beef from a hormone implanted steer.

Cholesterol CONCERN – Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in animal tissue and medical research has shown it to be a contributing cause of heart disease. Cholesterol is an essential part of nerve tissue and cell membranes of all animals. Cholesterol plays an important part in the body’s hormone manufacturing and in the production of bile for the digestive system. Research is contradictory about the role of cholesterol in the formation of deposits in the coronary system. Meat industry has been working to produce meat that is leaner with less marbling or fat content. Reality – in the past 20 years the amount of fat in our meat products has been significantly reduced by industry research.

Genetic Engineering CONCERN – Interfering with mother nature or altering the genetic makeup of an animal may create animals that do not serve human interests. Genetics are used to change genes in an organism can boost efficiency of producing them and in turn produce better and cheaper products. BST or recombinant bovine somatotropin is produced through genetic engineering and is a naturally occurring hormone Significantly will increase the production of milk in cows that are given small amounts Reality - The National Institute of Health and the FDA have found and declared BST to be safe for the cows and the humans who consume the milk.

Environmental Concerns CONCERN – Livestock, especially those raised in confined operations produce a great deal of waste that will contaminate the water supply. Reality- livestock waste does carry coliforms that are bacteria that can pollute the water supply, but there are stringent laws in place to keep this from happening. It is lligeal to discharge waste into any water way EPA has regulations that help to prevent this from happening even accidently Lagoons are used to collect waste, allow it to break down through natural bacterial action. After breaking down the material is spread on fields for the use as a fertilizer.

Overgrazing of Public Lands CONCERN- That our public lands are being overgrazed and ruined by producers who do not take care of the land. In the western United States, government lands are leased to animal producers Reality- Most producers want to be able to pass their operations on to the next generation and it is in their best interest to take care of the land. Bureau of Land management has reported repeatedly that our public range lands are in better shape then any other time in the century. The USDA agrees that a sound grazing management system build soils and enhances the wildlife habitat.

Global Warming CONCERN – Clearing of forests to make room to raise livestock is removing the trees in tropical areas that assists in removing excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which contributes to global warming. Reality – Majority of cleared land is used for crop production Forest acreage in the United States is only slightly less than it was in 1850, and very little meat products are imported from South America.

Global Warming - Continued CONCERN – Animal waste gives off methane gas that contributes to global warming Reality – Research has shown that animals do not contribute to global warming. Methane gas is collected and used as a fuel source