Bovine Emissions; Tip of the Eco-Unfriendly Iceberg?
Image by Christian Taylor Hauschild courtesy StockVault
Cows and the ozone layer.
We have all heard the comical tidbit of environmental knowledge regarding bovine flatulence which has reached almost cliche proportions. There certainly is data available which confirms how bovine “emissions” impact the environment. Yet, there may be more ways in which the use of these these iconic mammals for human consumption compromise precious resources on this planet.
Grab your almond milk, rosehip tea, or glass of herbal water and read on friend!
"Milking A Cow in A Barn" by De Koestal c. 1650 from Wikimedia
Cows as we know them today were domesticated as early as the last stage of the stone age, or Neolithic Age. Bos Taurus (bovine) are the cows seen mostly in Europe or the Americas. Since then, they have been used to provide meat for consumption, leather goods, as well as for dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and butter.
Cushy cow, bonny, let down thy milk,
And I will give thee a gown of silk;
A gown of silk and a silver tee,
If thou wilt let down thy milk to me.
Raw cow’s milk, like all mammal milks, contains a powerful mixture of antibodies, natural hormones, minerals and nutrients to promote and sustain the growth and immune system of the offspring.
In America’s early days a family may have had the luxury of owning a family milking cow. Small farms could allow their cows to raise their calves and would only take a little extra milk for their families.
"Thomas James Dickson and Cow" Image courtesy of Steven J. Wamback
Demand for milk did not exceed it’s supply, thus raising cattle did not require the extent of resources it does today.
Economic and societal changes moved a majority of people away from farms and into more urban areas. Industrialization brought about promise and prosperity, and population growth followed suit, as well as the growth of the dairy industry.
Today, most milk is a commercially industrialized food. In the United States milk comes from dairy farm cows who, according to the EPA ‘s Lifecycle Production Phase report, lactate fairly consistently for 3 to 5 years.
These cows are not allowed to naturally wean their calves. The cow’s natural process of raising a calf is interrupted in order to keep a steady population of milking cows. In addition, there is not much room for calves, or adult male bulls.
The meat industry absorbs the unwanted calves, bulls, and aging low lactating cows by processesing slaughtered cattle for our consumption. According tp livestock economist Tim Petry’s 2011 Cattle Situation and Outlook report , 17% of American beef products comes from slaughtered dairy cows. Petry reports that slaughter was up over 10 percent in 2010 and will continue to rise as demand for milk and increases in dairy cow populations rise.
From "Carbon Footprint and Dairy Industry" by G. Thoma et al. 2008 Elite Business Conference; Courtesy DocStoc.com. Click on Image for Full Presentation
Maintaining and sustaining cattle for the growing and changing dairy industry is increasingly raising questions regarding the considerable impact on our resources. According to the USDA’s 2o02 report on The Changing Landscape of U.S. Milk Production, “Environmental concerns about large numbers of animals on potentially small acreages are increasing, as are the waste management issues associated with those animals”. As an example, accommodating more cattle within limited acreages of farmland has put local water sources, such as streams, in danger of contamination by runoffs of concentrated animal waste.
Image courtesy: blogs.kansas.com
In order to transport the product to retailers, non-renewable energy sources such as gasoline, water, and electricity are used to package and distribute milk. Cornell University‘s Cooperative Extension reports that in 2005 Ohio dairy farms used 12.4 million gallons of water per year for 988 milking cows. That’s 12,550 gallons of water per year per cow. The average adult human being needs about 228 gallons of water per year to maintain health.
These facts and figures indicate that current widely used systems of rearing livestock for consumption seem to be increasingly raising our water footprint and carbon footprint.
However, if these systems were not in place, the efficiency of the dairy industry would certainly be slowed by the logistics of waiting for cows to successfully mate and become pregnant in order to stimulate the mammary glands to produce milk, raising each dairy cow so that she could naturally have their calves drink their milk as they would in the wild, and then keeping the grown calf, male or female, along with their aging mothers and fathers on the farm. Wikipedia cites that domestic cows not used for dairy can live from 15 to 20 years. Cows can naturally give birth to calves approximately every 2 years. Gestation is 9 months and in a more natural environment, they are weaned after about 1 year. How would raising cows in this manner be sustained? How would we get enough mass produced, pathogen free milk for human consumption?
As a new vegan, I tried adding soy as an alternative protein source. After having researched why my hormones were going berzerk I found information on significant links between soy related imbalances in hormones and the endocrine system. Watching the above video was educational as well as daunting, yet definately far from inspirational.
There was a piper had a cow,
And he had naught to give her;
He pulled out his pipes and played her a tune,
And bade the cow consider.The cow considered very well,
And gave the piper a penny,
And bade him play the other tune,
“Corn rigs are bonny.”
CONSERVATION GRAZING
This method of managing animals on a farm provides a eco-friendlier alternative to feeding large amounts of grain, corn, or soya to livestock. Animals are allowed to graze the naturally diverse vegetation on the fields currently not in use, and the grazing helps prepare the land for future crops.
Given my preliminary research it seems dairy products come to us with a pervasive set of systems which although in the short term may seem to efficiently provide some nourishment to swelling population numbers, may hurt us in the long term. A keener eye and deeper knowledge is needed in order to make any definitive statements either way on what has been discovered, yet I certainly am intrigued and can’t seem to shake the idea that raising so many animals and producing so much milk for human consumption isn’t the best path toward a sustainable future on this planet.
Efforts have been made within the last ten years to make the dairy industry more eco-friendly, safer for human consumption, and more humane for the animals. Increased awareness about inhumane practices on factory farms and slaughter houses have led to increasing consumer demand for dairy and beef products that come from cows on small, sustainable farms whose dairy cows have access to grazing pastures in order to carry out their natural behaviors while simultaneously reducing environmental stresses.
I believe it is our responsibility to take an interest in how the dairy industry impacts us across continents, whether it be positively, negatively, or both. My sense is that this issue deserves much more than sensational, fuzzy-fact laden, judgmental mudslinging between different philosophical camps.
When I walk in the dairy isle of my local market, I can’t help but notice pacifying images of the happy cow and I wonder about whether dairy cows are indeed comfortable producing so much milk. I like to see a happy cow. I think they are majestic and deserve respect. At a stop light a few years I looked over to my right and spotted a cow at the fence of a local farm . The seemingly tranquil cow was observing the road and chewing on a plastic shopping bag from the mega-supermarket located across the street. Myself and another concerned citizen pulled our cars over and helped the cow release the plastic bag. An ironically disturbing memory, especially as I now think about the dairy cow’s place in our lives today.
Image courtesy webenhanced.lbcc.edu
Do organic labels potentially serve to nullify the immensity of the negative impact mass produced food group may have on our environment, especially when one considers how good Parmesan cheese tastes? I started making my own almond milk and cashew milk as a way to replace cow’s milk, yet I am aware that these nuts make their long journeys to the New England at a cost. I am currently unclear as to whether their benefits outweigh the energy costs of getting them to my local organic foods market, but I’m working on it!
When I attempted to cut animal products out of my diet in early September, I noticed a marked increase in hunger which raised another question. How could I maintain a sustainable supply of vegetable, nuts, fruits, and grains in my backyard garden that would keep up with the nutritional needs of myself and my family? The garden I started last year is certainly not up to the task and yet depending on large farms doesn’t appeal to me. Enter the local organic farmer’s market…for now….at least.
I certainly do not have all the answers and I struggle with my commitment to more “sustainable eating” within the current fabric of the food industry. I do so miss Parmesan cheese! However, I can say that I love the idea of knowing from where my food originates as well as taking more personal responsibility for my diet and health. It also feels good to be an active participant in the legacy of this dear planet which will eventually be inherited by my children. All that said, this topic has opened up more questions for me than definitive answers.
How do we reconcile the love we have for dairy products and it’s touted nutritional health benefits, all of the industries controversies and our desire to live lightly and lovingly on this planet all the while aspiring toward a viable future?
We would love to hear from you, please leave your thoughtful comments, questions, and opinions below!
Your friend,
Great article! But as a dedicated carnevore and dairy-o-phile, I shall go to my early grave filled with meat and dairy products. It's in my genes and in my genealogy. Kudos to Ms Eve Allease on a thought-provoking article!
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