Health Leaders Must Focus on the Threats From Factory Farms

Eating animals may have been crucial to our survival in the past. But now, it’s killing us.

 New Zealand’s Dirty Dairy

New Zealand is proud of its share of worldwide dairy export; it has 6 million of the world’s 271 million dairy cows, which is substantial given that the human population is only 4.5 million. The government and dairy industry congratulate themselves on their reputation, but the dark side of dairy is increasingly unsettling people.

 The Fight for America's Disappearing Ancient Dairy Cows

Farmers can’t afford to save the country’s dwindling heritage breeds. But can the dairy industry afford to lose them?

 Why are we feeding cows Skittles?

It's a big dizzying circle, isn't it? It's just an example of our complicated food system that makes my mind reel. Today it's reeling because a truck accidentally lost a shipment of Skittles on its way to becoming cattle feed. And it's not a joke.

The Truth About Grassfed Beef

A lot of people today, horrified by how animals are treated in factory farms and feedlots, and wanting to lower their ecological footprint, are looking for healthier alternatives.

A Cow’s Life: It Isn’t All Clover

In the great tradition of American muck-raking (pun intended), this brilliantly written book on the cattle industry ropes you in with its folksy, down-to-earth tone and wry humor. Disarming or not, Cowed provides a serious look at the cattle industry’s enormous hoofprint on the American landscape — and psyche.

Beef cattle: What’s the deal with hormones?

It might be surprising to learn that hormones are in all living things and that the relative amount of hormone in beef, either with added hormones or without, is much less when compared to many other food items regularly consumed in North American diets.

Big Agriculture Gets Its Sh*t Together

Mike McCloskey is working to change the mind-set of the industry, demonstrating that farms can tackle environmental problems and still make a profit—and the bigger the farm, the bigger the impact.

Could A Cow Virus Cause Colon Cancer?

The remote possibility that I might develop mad cow disease as a result has never stopped me from diving into a nice juicy hamburger (preferably with a generous helping of ketchup and relish).

Cow Dung Itself Breeds Antibiotic Resistance

Even manure from drug-free cows encourages antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Cows Are The Root Of All Evil, And We’re Too Hungry To Care

When put into perspective, it all makes sense: The rapid depletion of our resources, the assault on our bodily health, the bombardment of our olfactory senses, the planet-destroying flatulence — cows must be hell-bent on our ultimate destruction. Or at the very least, they want us out of the way to make room for the arrival of their alien overlords. Either way, cows are the root of all evil.

Cowsourcing: tracking the health of the herd in real time

The system can generate alerts for any abnormal behaviour and can help farmers find individual sick cows or track the health of the herd over time.

Have you thought about cow-sharing?

If you're a fan of humanely raised, sustainable beef, you may want to become a 'steakholder.'

Here’s Why Even Organic Farms Are Awful For Animals — And How They Can Be Improved

Consumers are becoming more aware and interested. Some people in the industry themselves are vying for change. Among the greatest sources of inspiration to me in Project Animal Farm have been some of the farmers I met. Change is budding among both producers and consumers; it’s only a matter of time before a tipping point is reached.

Is Feedlot Beef Bad for the Environment?

Robert Martin says the pollution spreads for miles; Jude L. Capper says the beef industry keeps things safe.