Myth: Cows cause global warming
Beef and cattle production have been targeted as one of the United States’ biggest producers of greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the numbers say that livestock or cattle contribute as much as 18 percent of our overall greenhouse gas emissions.
The Facts: Beef production and the environment…the truth
Cattle are not the major cause of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. In fact, their contribution to global warming is much less than most people think. According to numbers from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cattle production is not a top contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
- According to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2010:
- Agriculture= 6.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
- Livestock=3.1% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
- Methane from livestock=2.8% of total emissions.
- To compare with other industries:
- Electricity Generation = 33% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
- Transportation = 26% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
- Industrial Use = 11% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
- Residential and Commercial Use = 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
- Always Improving. The beef community agrees that taking care of the environment is very important. Cattlemen and women believe beef and the environment can exist together without damaging it. This is why between 1977 and 2007 the beef community has reduced their overall carbon footprint by 16 percent.
- Grass-fed beef isn’t better for the environment. Many people claim that grass-fed beef is better for the environment; however this is not the case. According to a Washington State University study, if all cattle stayed on grass instead of going to the feedyard, the industry would produce even more greenhouse gas emissions.
