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Where is there more livestock than people?

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Re: Where is there more livestock than people?

#71

Post by sushxbehshx »

peoplefromibiza wrote: post #52
sweetheart wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nothing about what you said is antithetical to veganism, so I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.

well, this is the reason why people downvote these comments. muslims don't eat pork, Hindu don't eat cows, every religion impose dietary restriction, doesn't mean that non believers have to follow them. Veganism is no exception to the rule: if you believe you're reducing animal suffering, good for you, go on with your religion and be happy. But in truth you aren't, vegans kill a lot of animals too, there are billions…

No post body was provided.

Re: Where is there more livestock than people?

#72

Post by colechristensen »

officialjunk wrote: post #36
dzdt wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even in pastureland country, cattle typically spend winters packed together in feedlots and are fattened in feedlots on a largely corn-based diet before slaughter. Depending on who is doing the labelling, cattle which were pastured before this fattening process may still be sold as "grass-fed".

isn't the corn based diet unique to the United States, since corn is a subsidized crop?

Regardless of subsidies, corn is a very efficient calories per acre crop if the land and climate supports it, which is somewhat uncommon.

Re: Where is there more livestock than people?

#73

Post by puffoflogic »

seanwilson wrote: post #48
oangemangut wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

72B of those 80 are chickens, cattle come in at 325M. At least chickens are a superfood animal in terms of converting calories into food, and generally being lower impact than cattle, pork, etc.

> At least chickens are a superfood animal in terms of converting calories into food Maybe compared to beef but when chickens are being fed crops they're not efficient compared to eating crops directly. 72 billion chickens is still an insane number of extra lives to support. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_efficiency "In comparing the cultivation of animals versus plants, there is a clear difference in magni…

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Re: Where is there more livestock than people?

#75

Post by danans »

burlesona wrote: post #12

I grew up in a small town and spent a lot of time driving through cows > people counties through college and young adulthood - every visit back to my parents meant seeing lots of cattle on the way. At grocery stores I would see packaging for “grass-fed beef” or “free-range” and honestly I thought it was like a joke that farmers were pulling on city people, like “gormet hand-picked potatoes” or “premium plastic” or so…

> Then I moved to California, and one day had occasion to drive from SF to LA. North of Bakersfield I encountered the most profound stink I’ve ever smelled while driving, and eventually I saw the source: industrial operations with enormous numbers of cattle in fenced pens shoulder to shoulder so they could hardly move.

Those feedlots are all over the country, the largest being in Colorado, Texas and Kansas:

https://r-calfusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/160125-Top-...

The one you saw in Coalinga is 19th on the list.

Also in California, you can find beef and dairy cattle roaming freely among the rolling coastal hills that never end up in a a feedlot like that, but you can bet that their meat and dairy isn't cheap. Industrial meat production is a nightmare, but when push comes to shove, few seem to be OK paying $30 for a burger.

Re: Where is there more livestock than people?

#76

Post by citilife »

A county I have a farm in averages ~2 humans per square mile. Cows, chickens, pigs (really all animals) outnumber humans. Though this map isn't entirely accurate. Every farmer seems to have a handful of pigs, cows, goats, horses, ducks, turkeys, donkeys, chickens, etc at the very least.

Part of the challenge in this particular case is data collection, most of these people sell amongst each other and sell everything they can out of auction: direct, to each other, consume themselves, etc.

Re: Where is there more livestock than people?

#77

Post by danans »

yakubin wrote: post #57
peoplefromibiza wrote: post #31

Denmark 5.8 million people, 13.5 million pigs

Scotland 5.46 million people, 6.83 million sheep.

The sheep economy was forced upon Scotland by the British during the Highland Clearances [1] which followed the subjugation of the Highlands after the failed Jacobite Rebellion.

Peasants who were not involved in sheep farming were forcibly evicted or killed, resulting in the sheep-centric agriculture we see today, and also triggered the earliest large Scottish peasant migrations to the Americas.

According to the guides at the Battlefield of Culloden, prior to the Clearances, the Scottish Highlands had a more mixed agricultural and cottage industrial economy, but basically got turned into a sheep production "banana republic" after the British defeated them.

1. https://www.britannica.com/event/Highland-Clearances

Re: Where is there more livestock than people?

#78

Post by importantbrian »

burlesona wrote: post #12

I grew up in a small town and spent a lot of time driving through cows > people counties through college and young adulthood - every visit back to my parents meant seeing lots of cattle on the way. At grocery stores I would see packaging for “grass-fed beef” or “free-range” and honestly I thought it was like a joke that farmers were pulling on city people, like “gormet hand-picked potatoes” or “premium plastic” or so…

I had a similar experience. Grew up in a really rural area with family who raised cattle. Spent a lot of time on my Grandfather's farm. But my other grandparents lived in rural California. Driving past all the factory dairy farms was pretty shocking.

Re: Where is there more livestock than people?

#79

Post by megablast »

Gustomaximus wrote: post #4

I was surprised the lack if sheep areas. Is lamb not a popular meat in USA? Just looked up wool production and didn't realise how much Australia produces: https://blog.bizvibe.com/blog/textiles-and-garments/top-10-l...

It’s not popular in Australia either. It’s available, but everyone eats chicken, pork or beef.

Re: Where is there more livestock than people?

#80

Post by elzbardico »

burlesona wrote: post #12

I grew up in a small town and spent a lot of time driving through cows > people counties through college and young adulthood - every visit back to my parents meant seeing lots of cattle on the way. At grocery stores I would see packaging for “grass-fed beef” or “free-range” and honestly I thought it was like a joke that farmers were pulling on city people, like “gormet hand-picked potatoes” or “premium plastic” or so…

This is only sustainable because of subsidies and non-tariff barriers.

Take them away and most intensive cattle operations in the first world wouldn't be able to survive.

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