Current Cattle Market Daily Headlines for Monday, September 14, 2020

Mackenzie Johnston

6 years ago

“Why cutting back on beef is good for you and the planet”

Americans eat an average of 58 lbs. of beef per year, while the world average is right around 14 lbs.
Prevention magazine, a lifestyle magazine that features articles on fitness, wellness, food and nutrition, and other health topics, has released a statement saying they will no longer create any new recipes containing beef.
The magazine plans to put their focus on other types of protein because they feel beef poses a problem for the planet. They think that raising animals is an inefficient business and isn’t sustainable.
- A 2006 study reported that beef production is usually harder on the planet than other protein sources, and industrialized beef production is responsible for up to 80 percent of deforestation in the Amazon.
According to Sujatha Bergen, director of health campaigns at the National Resources Defense Council, if every American, on average, cut the equivalent of a burger out of their diet every week, it would be the same as taking 10 million cars off the road each year.

A new PETA billboard located near JBS Grand Island accuses JBS and those that eat meat of causing the partial destruction of the Amazon rainforest.
A news release from PETA claims that more than 80% of deforestation in the Amazon is linked to meat production.
- Furthermore, the United Nations has stated that animal agriculture is responsible for nearly one-fifth of human induced greenhouse-gas emissions. The UN feels a global shift to vegan eating is needed to combat the worst effects of climate change.
According to JBS spokeswoman, Nikki Richardson, JBS USA in Grand Island does not source cattle from the Amazon region. Instead, the plant supports producers in Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota.
- Richardson went on to say that JBS is focused on producing food sustainably, while supporting American agriculture.
PETA blames the meat industry and those who support it for the deaths of parrots, monkeys, and other wildlife who make their home in the Amazon.
- The organization says it plans to place identical billboards near other JBS locations across the U.S.
PETA’s president, Ingrid Newkirk said in a press release that PETA wants everyone to know that they can help save the rainforest by going vegan and the organization is there to help people make the transition.