Does anybody boycott beef (a horrid French term) because of the damage cattle do to the environment?

Question

Overgrazing, eutrophication, wiping out native flora etc.

Please specify location. Mine is England.

Answer 1

First off, you make it sound like it's the cattle's fault.  They are just one of God's innocent creatures. Any damage done like you are talking about is caused by man abusing the use or care of the cattle, not the cattle themselves.  Second, just because a few abuse the situation, the whole cattle industry does not need to be shut down.  Most try to do it right.  I raise cattle in the USA, free-range mostly on grass except during the winter months.  The are grazed on hilly ground that is erodible if cropped.  So being able to keep it in grass and cattle is actually conserving the land.  I depend on my farm and cattle for a living.  If you choose to boycott cattle, that is your right and privilege, you have my blessing, but please don't mind if I choose not to join you.  Besides, there is nothing I enjoy as much as a good stake or roast and, oh yes, I'm an American, a hamburger.

When you choose a cause, no matter what it is, try to keep your target on the ones causing the problem, and not condemn the whole race, country, animal, industry, or etc.  It sounds like you may have a little bit of a problem with the whole country of the French as well.

Answer 2

I don't buy meat that has been cruelly raised or slaughtered.

(animal welfare)

I don't buy meat that has been fed cereals if I can help it

(health)

I live in England and buy at Waitrose

Answer 3

Well, there are lots of reason to boycott beef I suppose (though not me, I love the stuff!). Although, cattle's affect on the enviroment should be awefuly low on the list. If you look into it, cattle are not nearly as harmful as recent special interest groups would like you to think.

And, if you do boycott beef for enviromental reasons, I hope you also boycott gasoline, riding only a bike. No, wait...you have to boycott bikes too because of the harm the mining industry is doing to the enviroment, so I hope you walk everywhere...no, wait, you'll have to walk barefoot because of the impact the rubber industry has on the enviroment, and leathers no good...cause that comes from cattle.

OK, so, your gonna walk barefoot to the store (and probably naked), make sure, whatever you do, not to buy anything cold, because of the refrigerants affect on the enviroment, and again, the mining industries affect on the enviroment...a double whammy!

People, in most cases, boycotting is not the way to go to help the enviroment...it does little good, and you'll have to boycott just about EVERYTHING if you really care about cause/effect on our enviroment.

You will have a much greater positive affect on the things you want to change by taking action, not inaction (boycotting). If you are serious, and want to help save/improve our enviroment, get out and do something. Plant a tree, become actively involved in local enviromental projects, take a half a day each week and actualy accomplish something, even if it's just walking around collecting litter somewhere. If we all did that, there would be so much less to worry about...

And, oh, I did not know beef was a french term.

Answer 4

you need more education city boy.......don't bitzch about something you have know nothing about besides what you read in the PETA bulletins

Answer 5

Not me.

I eat a pound of beef every day.

All our cattle is raised on grass, which determines low cholesterol and hormones-free beef.

We love beef in Argentina.

Answer 6

There are a huge number of reasons to refuse to purchase beef or dairy products ranging from animal abuse issues to environmental abuse issues, to health issues. Even religious/ ethical issues. I think that most if not all people will identify with at least one of those. But few people follow their hearts. I was faithful for many years to not support those industries, then I had children. I was sure that I had them on the right track, a good start with their diets while addressing the issues on almost every level. But something happened and my kids turned on the whole healthy food work I was diligent to present. School food, meals with friends, and the inability to make it 100% for what ever reason killed it. Like refusing to have toy guns around the house, it became worse when they found them away from my watchful eye, or in the case of food, my carefully prepared menu. They will have to make their own minds up when they are old enough. Me? I will be back on track soon as they are off to college.