Comments on: Grass-Fed Cows: Green Or Not? http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/ Healthy Living For People and Planet Earth Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:52:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brande http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-15733 Brande Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:35:06 +0000 http://willtaft.com/?p=718#comment-15733 Interesting indeed. Well I too think to leave it as it is until we can come up with a better solution. Genetically changed grass may even cause some other side effects that we may not know. Interesting indeed. Well I too think to leave it as it is until we can come up with a better solution. Genetically changed grass may even cause some other side effects that we may not know.

]]> By: Podchef http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-13968 Podchef Wed, 27 May 2009 03:55:47 +0000 http://willtaft.com/?p=718#comment-13968 Will, thanks for visiting my site and commenting! I have seen the contraption lately too during some footage of a study on cattle diets and whether feeding garlic will stop them farting. Yes, it will, especially in large quantities. Only problem is Dairy cattle, which are fed a tough mixture to digest are the worst farters and cannot be helped by the garlic as it would ruin the milk.... I am pretty sure the forage on the plains would be fine for most modern cattle. It might take a generation or two to sort out the problems, but in the end the could adjust. I have taken commercially raised dairy cattle used to being pushed on a commercial ration and have done fine with them on my mixed "herb"/grass pastures. It's really the protein vs roughage that matters overall. But I do understand what you are saying. Will, thanks for visiting my site and commenting! I have seen the contraption lately too during some footage of a study on cattle diets and whether feeding garlic will stop them farting. Yes, it will, especially in large quantities. Only problem is Dairy cattle, which are fed a tough mixture to digest are the worst farters and cannot be helped by the garlic as it would ruin the milk….

I am pretty sure the forage on the plains would be fine for most modern cattle. It might take a generation or two to sort out the problems, but in the end the could adjust. I have taken commercially raised dairy cattle used to being pushed on a commercial ration and have done fine with them on my mixed “herb”/grass pastures. It’s really the protein vs roughage that matters overall. But I do understand what you are saying.

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-13967 Will Wed, 27 May 2009 03:47:44 +0000 http://willtaft.com/?p=718#comment-13967 Hey Podchef, thanks for the comment. I checked out and really like your posts. Interesting about the mixed pasture. That mixture of grasses being native to the great plains would not really bear on modern cows as they are European imports, not native to the plains. But it makes sense that it would make for a healthier digestive system for the cows. If you want to measure cow farts, you don't need to stand out in the field. There is a contraption that the cow wears that measures it over a 24 hour period. I have a photo here somewhere, but I could not find the post it is on. Hey Podchef, thanks for the comment. I checked out and really like your posts.

Interesting about the mixed pasture. That mixture of grasses being native to the great plains would not really bear on modern cows as they are European imports, not native to the plains. But it makes sense that it would make for a healthier digestive system for the cows.

If you want to measure cow farts, you don’t need to stand out in the field. There is a contraption that the cow wears that measures it over a 24 hour period. I have a photo here somewhere, but I could not find the post it is on.

]]> By: Podchef http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-13965 Podchef Tue, 26 May 2009 19:21:11 +0000 http://willtaft.com/?p=718#comment-13965 A further corollary to the s-curve of grass is the types of grass grazed. A study in Britain a few years back (sorry, can't find the link) shows that a mixed forage of several, preferably native, grasses in one pasture reduces the incidences of methane release and flatulence and burping in general. It is this natural pasture, made up of 7 to 15 different species of forage, which made up the Great Plains once. I am fortunate to have one such natural pasture to graze my animals on. It is what Newman Turner would call an "herbal ley". Most people think I'm mad letting dandelions, plantains, daisies and other "weeds" grow in my pastures. However, as Turner & many others have shown, it's these "weeds" or herbs, which give cattle their health, provide nutrition for the pastures and generally keep things humming along nicely. I don't stand out in the field measuring cow farts, but I am frequently around them at all times and during milking and I have yet to sense they are overly gassy on such natural forage. A further corollary to the s-curve of grass is the types of grass grazed. A study in Britain a few years back (sorry, can’t find the link) shows that a mixed forage of several, preferably native, grasses in one pasture reduces the incidences of methane release and flatulence and burping in general. It is this natural pasture, made up of 7 to 15 different species of forage, which made up the Great Plains once. I am fortunate to have one such natural pasture to graze my animals on. It is what Newman Turner would call an “herbal ley”. Most people think I’m mad letting dandelions, plantains, daisies and other “weeds” grow in my pastures. However, as Turner & many others have shown, it’s these “weeds” or herbs, which give cattle their health, provide nutrition for the pastures and generally keep things humming along nicely.

I don’t stand out in the field measuring cow farts, but I am frequently around them at all times and during milking and I have yet to sense they are overly gassy on such natural forage.

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-13741 Will Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:14:39 +0000 http://willtaft.com/?p=718#comment-13741 Wow Sigurd, this seems like such a responsible way to graze the cattle. I have heard about the farm before. It even has its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyface_Farm" target="_blank">own Wikipedia entry</a> now. Wow Sigurd, this seems like such a responsible way to graze the cattle. I have heard about the farm before. It even has its own Wikipedia entry now.

]]> By: Sigurd Andersen http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-13733 Sigurd Andersen Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:40:50 +0000 http://willtaft.com/?p=718#comment-13733 Another comment re Polyface Farm - they time grazing to grass' growth cycle, which follows an "S" curve. It grows slowly when cropped short. As it gets some length, it grows faster. After a while, growth slows and the plant gets woody. (I got this explanation from the book, The Omnivore's Dilemma.) I think lignin increases towards the end of this cycle. At Polyface Farm cows graze towards the end of the fast-growth period, and are moved to other pasture before grazing the grass to stubs. This yields maximum growth of the grass over a season. It seems to me it would also minimize the cow's intake of lignin, as they are grazing on non-woody grass. Another comment re Polyface Farm – they time grazing to grass’ growth cycle, which follows an “S” curve. It grows slowly when cropped short. As it gets some length, it grows faster. After a while, growth slows and the plant gets woody. (I got this explanation from the book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma.) I think lignin increases towards the end of this cycle. At Polyface Farm cows graze towards the end of the fast-growth period, and are moved to other pasture before grazing the grass to stubs. This yields maximum growth of the grass over a season. It seems to me it would also minimize the cow’s intake of lignin, as they are grazing on non-woody grass.

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-12435 Will Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:33:14 +0000 http://willtaft.com/?p=718#comment-12435 There are several of those cows around. In fact 25 years ago when I was in college in the Life Sciences and Agriculture department of The University of New Hampshire, we had a cow with a plexiglass window. It did not open though! There are several of those cows around. In fact 25 years ago when I was in college in the Life Sciences and Agriculture department of The University of New Hampshire, we had a cow with a plexiglass window. It did not open though!

]]> By: Steve http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-12430 Steve Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:26:37 +0000 http://willtaft.com/?p=718#comment-12430 hi Will, I wouldn't be surprised if the grass is harder to digest (than corn) and somehow results in higher emissions. Things usually aren't as simple as they seem, and for every new "solution" there are new problems (though that doesn't mean the new solution isn't net good. What I really wanted comment on was that every time I see a post about cows now, I think of the movie King Corn and see the image of the cow with the "port-hole-window" in its side so that the researcher can see inside of it, and if I remember correctly, open the window and reach inside the stomach to pull out the contents for analysis. That image still gives me the chills. ~ Steve (the Trade Show Guru) <abbr><em>Trade Show Gurus last blog post..<a href="http://www.trade-show-guru.com/2008/10/netfix-rocks/" rel="nofollow">Netfix Rocks</a></abbr></em> hi Will,
I wouldn’t be surprised if the grass is harder to digest (than corn) and somehow results in higher emissions. Things usually aren’t as simple as they seem, and for every new “solution” there are new problems (though that doesn’t mean the new solution isn’t net good.
What I really wanted comment on was that every time I see a post about cows now, I think of the movie King Corn and see the image of the cow with the “port-hole-window” in its side so that the researcher can see inside of it, and if I remember correctly, open the window and reach inside the stomach to pull out the contents for analysis. That image still gives me the chills.
~ Steve (the Trade Show Guru)

Trade Show Gurus last blog post..Netfix Rocks

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-12419 Will Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:23:36 +0000 http://willtaft.com/?p=718#comment-12419 Hi JD: You are right about that. Cattle grazing on public lands is a big issue here in Oregon. Ranchers have traditionally been able to let their livestock graze for almost free and the damage that is done to the ecosystem is tremendous. There is a big public outcry to buy out these grazing rights and free the land from the cattle. Hi JD: You are right about that. Cattle grazing on public lands is a big issue here in Oregon. Ranchers have traditionally been able to let their livestock graze for almost free and the damage that is done to the ecosystem is tremendous. There is a big public outcry to buy out these grazing rights and free the land from the cattle.

]]> By: Anna http://willtaft.com/ethical-food/grass-fed-beef/comment-page-1/#comment-12414 Anna Sun, 26 Oct 2008 03:17:34 +0000 http://willtaft.com/?p=718#comment-12414 Hey Will, you can never win! BTW how about rice fields in China, they are also great contributors of the green house gases.... Anna :) <abbr><em>Annas last blog post..<a href="http://myonlyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/10/whats-on-far-side-of-moon.html" rel="nofollow">What's on the Far Side of the Moon?</a></abbr></em> Hey Will, you can never win! BTW how about rice fields in China, they are also great contributors of the green house gases…. Anna :)

Annas last blog post..What’s on the Far Side of the Moon?

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