Our Changing Menu

The US is the world’s largest producer and consumer of beef with sales of approximately $67 billion in 2018.[1] Although many savor beef, in developed countries consumption often exceeds dietary guidelines. Beef production is a big business and in the US, this amounts to about 790 million acres or over 40% of the US total land area.[2] Beef cattle are ruminants, which means they digest their food by enteric (intestinal) fermentation and this produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Beef animals produce about 50 times more greenhouse gas emissions per ounce of protein than wheat and 6 times more than pork.[3] When temperatures rise, cattle consume more water, lose their appetites, become less fertile, and can even die.[4] Scientists estimate heat stress costs the US beef industry about $370 million per year.[5] Droughts, which are expected to increase in coming years, have already affected the availability, price, and quality of pasture, harvested forages, and grains, putting more stress on beef production.[6] Cooling systems and changes in diets can reduce the impact of climate change on beef animals and their impact on the climate, respectively.