Regulating Cattle Emissions and Conspiracy Theories

OK. I’ve finally had enough of the ludicrous idea that the way to control greenhouse gases is to regulate emissions by livestock. I suspect it is really a plan to destroy the livestock industry by those who think we should all become Vegans. Or, maybe it is something even more sinister.


The carbon cycle is relatively simple to describe although its actions are complex. Living things are carbon-based. This includes plants and animals. Plants take carbon-dioxide out of the atmosphere, trap the carbon into their tissue in the form of various molecules such as sugars and then release Oxygen. Animals eat plants (or other animals) and through the process of digestion, break down the complex molecules (such as sugars) from the plant material and utilize the released energy to fuel their existence. In the process of digestion, some of the carbon is released back into the atmosphere as various gases and carbon dioxide is released through respiration. This process cycles the carbon in a somewhat continuous loop. Plants also release carbon when they die. The process of decomposition releases carbon into the atmosphere.

This carbon cycle has continued since the beginning of life on this planet. At one time in pre-history, there was significantly more carbon floating around in the atmosphere which fueled riotous growth of plants. Many of those plants were then trapped in sediment and over time changed to oil, gas and coal or were bound into limestone and other sedimentary rocks.

Until we began releasing the carbon that was “sequestered” in the form of oil, gas and coal, carbon wasn’t a problem. It was cycled through plants and animals just as it is today. It was this release from the utilization of fossil fuels of huge amounts of carbon back into the carbon cycle that created what some scientists today are claiming to be a cataclysmic problem for life on earth. In other words – it isn’t the cattle that are causing “climate change,” it is the burning of fossil fuels that released huge amounts of trapped carbon into the atmosphere that is causing the increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases.

So, why do our government and the governments of other nations throughout the world think the solution lies in regulating gas produced by cattle? Here is one possibility – it is part of the plan to control the world food supply. In the U.S. most crops are subsidized through various support payments. Livestock production is not. Placing regulations on the livestock producers under the guise of controlling greenhouse gas emissions makes sense only in the context of attempting to gain control of one of the few lightly regulated industries left.

It fits into what could be construed as a plan to force a one-world government. The way I see it, if one wanted to control the world you would begin with a series of induced crises. The crises would be designed to gain control of some key things – banking, energy and food. Hmmmm…..we recently saw manipulation of the first two of these items. That leaves food. I wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes in Copenhagen……

Bovine Genome Sequencing News

This is important in developing new ways to combat disease in cattle and to continue improvements to food safety.

Bovine genome sequencing provides clues to possible new developments

Carbon Taxing Food

New EPA rules could conceivably be interpreted to mean that livestock producers will be required to pay a carbon tax based on the number of animals on their premises. This is absolutely crazy. It will drive enough producers out of business that the cost of food in the form of animal proteins will go sky high. The last time that I looked, food was somewhat important to life on this planet. Below is just one of numerous related articles.

Livestock industry raises stink over EPA report on air pollution

If you think about it, livestock are converting unusable carbon into edible carbon. A cow converts grass into beef. Would you rather be eating grass or beef?

Most of the beef in our grocery stores comes from corn-fed cattle. That corn is raised by farmers who use diesel to fuel their tractors. That diesel will also be taxed. So, that means livestock producers in this instance will be subject to double taxation if a "cow" tax is implemented. Our country -- the world -- has lost its ever-loving mind over "climate change" when in fact, 2008 will be the coolest year of the decade. What is the world coming to????!

New Free Resource on Feeding Distillers Grains

A free downloadable book is available from Iowa State on feeding distillers grains to livestock and poultry. It can be accessed at the link below.

MATRIC Publishes Book on Feeding Distillers Grains

More on Wild Horses

My last post about "wild" horses received a lot of comments. I think that I will just post the link and leave any commentary to visitors.

A Dramatic Rescue for Doomed Wild Horses of the West

The Reason Wild Horses are a Problem

The real problem is the horse slaughter ban passed by Congress. The BLM is being overrun by feral horses -- horses that people have released into the wild because they no longer wanted to care for them. Our country has a serious problem with these feral horses -- and that's just what they are -- the glamorous "wild mustang" of the Old West is a fiction today. Most of the horses running wild across our country were from poor stock to begin with. The better animals are kept and the worthless ones released into the wild because there is NO MARKET for them! To fix this problem we MUST allow domestic horse slaughter plants to operate.

Nevada: Costs Threaten Wild Horses

Steve Kopperud Speaks to CattleNetwork

The animal rights activists are well-armed and well-funded, but agriculture has its advocates as well. One that I had the privilege of hearing last week is Steve Kopperud of the consulting firm, Policy Directions, Inc. He had some very straight-forward things to say to the Texas Cattle Feeders about those animal activists. The article linked below will give you a taste.

Jolley: Five Minutes with Steve Kopperud, Senior V.P., Policy Directions

New EPA Requirements for Livestock Operations

Most confined animal feeding operations do an excellent job of controlling manure and wastewater. State permitting processes require management plans that protect water resources. Now, the EPA has joined the process making it even more expensive for livestock operations to become permitted.

New Requirements for Controlling Manure, Wastewater from Large Animal Feeding Operations

Reproductive Issues Impact Bottom Line of Dairies

Reproductive efficiency and health are critical to profitability in all livestock operations but critically so to dairies. One contibutor to both reproductive and health issues is the presence of cattle persistently infected with BVD. Eliminating those animals from the herd can have very positive results for the bottom line.

Reproductive inefficiency eats at dairy producers' wallets

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Now that many producers are unable to utilize rBST, maximizing the dairy operation's reproductive efficiency is more critical than ever, said a Purdue University expert.

Allen Bridges, expert in reproductive management, said with the loss of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) - which increased milk production by 10 percent to 15 percent, and, in some cases, was demonstrated to...(complete article here).

Ethanol Secrets of the Bovine

This one is common sense. Cattle have been utilizing roughage since they were created.

Secret for efficient ethanol in cows' stomachs?
Professor: Enzyme that helps digestion could be the key
(complete article here)

House Reviews Use of Antimicrobials

I believe the judicious use of antimicrobials is important to animal agriculture, however, I also believe that the danger of potential microbial resistance is such that better attention to disease prevention should precede the use of antimicrobials. In cattle, one excellent way to improve heard health is through pro-active diagnostic testing. In particular, testing for animals persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVD) and removing positive animals from the herd can greatly reduce the incidence of disease and thus reduce the need for antibiotics or antimicrobials. BVD is both a direct, disease causing agent and an immuno suppressant. As an immuno suppressant, it makes the animal's immune sytem more vulnerable to attack by bacteria that may be present in the environment. For futher information on BVD-PI animals, see this post. For related issues see this post and this post.

Subcommittee Reviews Antimicrobial Use and Animal Health Issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, held a hearing to review advances in animal health, particularly the use of antimicrobials in the livestock industry.
The subcommittee...(complete news release here).

Regulating Genetically Engineered Animals

Genetic engineering is a growing industry that affects everything from food production to medicine and fuel.

FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Regulating Genetically Engineered Animals

Public comment invited on application of new animal drug provisions of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, today released for public comment draft guidance on the regulation of genetically engineered (GE) animals. The guidance document is intended to clarify the FDA's regulatory authority in this field, as well as the requirements and recommendations for producers of GE animals and products derived from GE animals.

The comment period for the...(complete news release here).

New Markets Grant Full Access to U.S. Beef

This is good news for the beef cattle industry.

COSTA RICA, BELIZE, QATAR AND GHANA JOIN NATIONS FOR FULL MARKET ACCESS OF U.S. BEEF

Ethanol Battle Not Over

Livestock producers are suffering from high feed prices. Soon, we will likely see a reduction in numbers in our livestock herd which will translate ultimately to higher protein prices for consumers.

This issue is not just domestic in nature. U.S. corn prices have an impact on the world market. Most other countries that use our corn do so for human consumption. In places like Africa, the effect of high U.S. corn prices is a contributor to famine conditions.


Ethanol battle unlikely to fade

Livestock, food industries discuss intensifying push to change law

By BRETT CLANTON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Aug. 8, 2008, 10:08PM

Efforts to cut or freeze U.S. corn ethanol requirements are unlikely to end with the federal government's denial Thursday of Texas Gov. Rick Perry's plea to waive half of this year's mandate.

Livestock and food industry groups that backed the request already are talking about increased lobbying efforts in Washington to change the law.

Legislation under discussion in the Senate could...(complete article here).

Neosporosis Vaccine Shows Promise for Cattle

Neosporosis is a disease that is commonly found in cattle, yet rarely understood by producers. The economic losses to the industry from this parasitic disease are significant.

Test Vaccines Show Promise against Parasite of Cattle

By Ann Perry
July 29, 2008

An effective vaccine against a parasite-borne disease called neosporosis may be a few steps closer to development, thanks to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators.
Neosporosis, caused by the parasite Neospora caninum, affects...(complete article here).

New Capture Apparatus for Deer

For the uninformed: Bambi can be a dangerous critter. Between sharp hooves and antlers, they can defend themselves fairly well. Capturing them for research purposes can be hazardous to both the humans and the animals involved. Safe-handling apparatus is beneficial to both the captor and the captured.

ARS-Developed Apparatus Captures Deer Safely, Effectively and with Minimal Trauma

By Alfredo Flores
July 25, 2008

A portable device that allows researchers to humanely trap deer and other wildlife as part of field studies to control ticks and other parasites has been developed by an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist.

The apparatus...(complete news release here).

CRP Decision and Consequences

My business is dependent on cattle production. The industry needed the release of CRP for grazing due to the extremely high feed costs caused by corn-based ethanol production. My experience tells me though, that this decision may not be the best for wildlife in some areas. I would have preferred for the authorization to allow that haying and grazing be limited to no more than 80% of each tract of CRP. The remaining 20% would preferably have been in strips or possibly on the most sensitive portions of a tract for wildlife. This would allow a reservoir of untouched grass for wildlife cover. I fear that many tracts will be overgrazed.

U.S. judge allows haying and grazing on CRP land

By Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. farmers and ranchers who have already been approved can participate in a government program allowing haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve land, a federal judge in Seattle said on Thursday.

In the decision, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour also ruled the...(complete article here).

EPA Ruling on Waiver Delayed

This one is complex. I'm not surprised at the delay. I submitted one of the 15,000 comments that they received. I believe that EPA should grant the waiver.

E.P.A. Delays Ruling on Ethanol

The Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday that it would not meet a July 24 deadline for ruling on a request that the government reduce the federal mandate on how much ethanol must be blended into gasoline this year.

“Rather, additional time is needed to allow...(complete article here).

Potential Use for Ethanol Coproduct

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Cattle feeders are struggling with high feed prices and DDGs are part of their answer. If there is increased demand for DDGs as a fertilizer, it further pressures feed prices.

ARS and Seed Company Examine Commercial Potential of Ethanol Coproduct

By Jan Suszkiw
July 10, 2008

Studies by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have shown that dried distiller's grains (DDGs)—coproducts of corn ethanol production—have potential as an organic fertilizer and for weed control. But some ethanol producers are adopting new corn-grinding methods that may affect the DDGs' usefulness.

To further study DDGs, ARS plant...(complete article here).

South Korea and U.S. Finally Reach Beef Deal

This is good not only for the U.S. beef industry but for our balance of trade as well.

South Korea and U.S. Reach Deal on American Beef

By CHOE SANG-HUN
Published: June 22, 2008

SEOUL — South Korea and the United States reached an agreement after a week of negotiations to restrict exports of American beef to South Korea, officials here said on Saturday, just hours before a large protest rally was scheduled to demand more concessions from the United States.

American trade envoys agreed to restrict beef exports to...(complete article here).