Cow Farts are No Laughing Matter
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Transcript of Cow Farts are No Laughing Matter
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.
MethaneResearchers 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/ cooking Hi
erar
chy
of C
ontr
ols
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?