Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20110630_usda-finds-in-favor-of-grass-fed-cows

Came across this article today. It's so encouraging to me to see this type of article... I try to be an optimist, and maybe things are starting to change in the food industry.

I like this quote: "...the USDA's findings on the matter are all the more remarkable considering that it's only in recent years that the agency has acknowledged there's a type of agriculture besides industrial agriculture, and it’s called sustainable." Apparently they've been doing many studies on sustainable and organic farming, with every study showing in favor of the more traditional practices.

I also found this really interesting and surprising: "Each confined cow produces 22,000 pounds of milk a year, while the pasture-raised cow produces only 13,000 pounds. However, the total amount of milk protein and fat in the milk produced was essentially the same, because “the foraging cows produced milk with far more fat and protein,” explains Rotz. Even more important in the argument, Rotz says, is that 130 grass-fed cows can produce the same amount of milk as 80 confined cows on the same amount of land. That's because amount of land needed to raise feed (grain) for the 80 confined cows is the same as the amount of land needed for grazing 130 cows."

My question is this- How many studies like this do you think it will take for things to really turn around in the US? Will it ever be enough to make a difference?

flag	asked Jul 8 2011 at 0:19 Andrea S. 1,378●5●12

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An often forgotten element to this is there there is a ton of land that is useless for any kind of agriculture at the moment that can be turned into high-quality pasture land if you just graze ruminants on it properly. It's a bit expensive to get the operation going but perhaps this is something that a government that throws money left and right at everything could do. After a handful of years it'll become profitable, too. – Stabby Jul 8 2011 at 1:46

cliff · Answer 1 · 2011-07-08 00:34:59Z UTC

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We haven't been grain-feeding animals heavily for that long. We will probably see a total reverse in policy and grass fed will be the norm.

answered Jul 8 2011 at 0:34

cliff
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	I hope lol...... – justanotherhunt Jul 8 2011 at 7:22
	Doubtful with the amount of subsidies aimed at wheat, corn, and soy (at least in the US). Doesn't mean we can't dream tho... – Joshua Jul 8 2011 at 19:06

HeatherC · Answer 2 · 2011-07-08 00:42:07Z UTC

Unfortunately I don't think it matters how many studies there are like this, it matters who has the money and who will lobby the hardest. I can hope that things will change because of studies like this but my gut tells me they can find studies that will counter this one if there is more money to be had in the way beef is grown and processed conventionally than there is in a sustainable and humane way.

Josh M · Answer 3 · 2011-07-08 01:20:31Z UTC

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Big business, big pharam and $$$ will unfortunately override great scientific studies. I hope for a future filled with great change but it is unlikely. If the change does come it will be glacial slow prob *le sigh.

answered Jul 8 2011 at 1:20

Josh M
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Tim · Answer 4 · 2011-07-08 13:31:00Z UTC

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That article was great except for the a-hole from Fox Business who is probably being paid by big AG to put it down!! We can all hope that this is a step in the right direction, but it will be a tough road to eliminate grain fed processes with all that $$$ thrown at it!!

answered Jul 8 2011 at 13:31

Tim
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	I know! I actually used to like John stossel when he was on ABC or CBS and did those expose type shows. I liked how he seemed to go against the mainstream thought. But now it seems like he switched sides a little. Very disappointing! – Andrea S. Jul 8 2011 at 14:45
	Most anyone on Fox who came from somewhere else has to conform to the biased Fox conservative way or face ridicule and shame from the right!! Fair and balanced my a$$!!! – Tim Jul 11 2011 at 2:28

“USDA finds in favor of grass-fed cows” What do you think?

4 Answers