IARN — Global beef production has been scrutinized not only for its environmental impact, but inefficiencies compared to other livestock sectors. A researcher asks, “Is beef going to survive?”
Dr. Vaughn Holder, ruminant research group director at Alltech, provides a direct answer in saying, “It absolutely has to.”
“In the next 30 years, we’re going to add two- to three-billion people to our population. Those people are going to want more nutritious foods, more protein. And in the next 30 to 40 years, we’re going to have to produce as much food as we have in the entire history of human civilization. That’s from Jack Bobo, from Futurity,” Dr. Holder said.
Dr. Holder says alternative, plant-based proteins alone cannot meet the growing protein demands, as only four-percent of Earth’s surface is cultivatable land. Aquaculture could help supplement these heightened demands. Ruminants, such as beef cattle, can utilize large parcels of rangeland.
“The only animals that can utilize rangeland are ruminant animals. That’s why I say ruminants are not going anywhere because there have been many experiments that have tried to convert rangeland to cultivatable land. Those experiments have not been successful,” Dr. Holder said.
Dr. Vaughn Holder debunked misconceptions about beef production during the ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference. You can view his presentation for a more in-depth analysis of cattle’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions at one.alltech.com.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
