The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has a Vision to be the World's Most Trusted Supplier of Beef

I was really excited to read the article “Power Steer” by Michael Pollen. I’ve seen several of his books at local book stores, as well as different television shows featuring his work. The purpose of Michael Pollen’s article was to educate himself and others on the process of producing industrial steak in America, and making a financial profit along the way. He felt that “Ignorance was no longer tenable.” In doing so, Michael decided to purchase an 8 month old calf numbered 534 for $598. This totaled $1.60 a day for room and board due to the cattle not being weaned yet. Throughout Michael’s educational journey, he was able to learn about the different problems associated with animal feeding operations. This includes health problems that cattle could cause to humans, such as

Summary After viewing the film “food Inc.” the way I now view the American food industry and our government has changed. I now see the food industry for what it really is, a corrupt business empire that is protected by government officials and policies. In the film it pinpoints many different areas where the food industry has become an injustice to the citizens of America, they have also been protected by laws and policies, and also have treated the cattle, chickens, and other farm animals with such cruelty for profitable gains. Some of the areas where the food industry has become an injustice to its citizens is in the processing of mass food products that are not healthy, the advertising of products to fit the description of farm grown food

The beef industry is an important asset to United States agriculture as a whole. Over a million agricultural entities benefited from the sales of cattle and calves in the year 2000. Gross totals from sales of cattle and calves in 2000 totaled $40.76 billion accounting of 21% of all agricultural receipts making the beef sector the largest single agricultural enterprise. Direct and indirect employment in or related to the production and processing of beef supports over 1.4 million full-time-equivalent jobs in the US as well. Cattle are produced in all 50 states and their economic impact contributes to nearly every county in the nation and they are a significant economic driver (Lawerance and Otto, 2000).

Although the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) was established by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect consumers, a number of unintended consequences have arisen that negatively impact producers. These include increased costs of feed, negative impacts of small and rural producers, limitations to meeting new demands and the voluntary nature of the VFD. This letter explores the VFD and identifies challenges with its current implementation that impact our rural and remote producers.

In the US today cattle are part of everyday culture. With more than 93 million cattle in the dairy and beef industry, and tens of thousands in the rodeo business, cattle are definitely a huge part. Lately, there has been many concerns with the bovine friends along with multiple misconceptions. Rodeos may look tough on animals, and todays society is not educated well enough on the beef and dairy industry. People don’t realize that these animals are happy, healthy, and very well cared for.

Holy cow, I haven’t eaten any beef or any red meat in over thirteen years. When I first saw the topic of this essay to discuss the primary differences between grass fed and corn fed beef. I had thought to myself hmmm I was thinking all cows had just ate grass. I always thought cow’s were slow food because they ate grass but I wondered how so much beef was being produced so fast, but then I thought about all the chicken steroid stories. Cows are ruminants designed by nature to stay healthy and be totally sustained taking nourishment on grass and only grass. Cows, have stomachs that are designed to digest grass. But of demand and because cattle producers are so profit driven, their operations use the cheapest

In the Shenandoah Valley near the border of Virginia, Joel Salatin and his son Daniel, accompanied by two farm hands, run “one of the most productive and influential alternative farms in America” (Pollan 126). Polyface Farm is rather unique in its business tactics as well as agricultural practices. The only way to eat products from Polyface farm is to live next to it. . .or within a half-day’s drive. Joel Salatin is a firm believer of “relationship marketing” wherein the only way to ensure integrity is to meet the man who raised your meal (Pollan 240). Farms like Joel’s are often forgotten or considered to be at the bottom of the socioeconomic food chain, yet customers come back every single week to pick up the food that they know has been humanely raised and is not tainted by the farcical regulations (or lack thereof) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Joel claims that “the only genuine accountability comes from a producer’s relationship with his or her customers, and their freedom” but his business is hindered by the “disconnected multi-national fecal factory” that is the American food industry (Pollan 235-241). Joel wants to be able to do more for his customers, and he’s fighting the system so that he can. Eventually, Joel would like to cure, or even smoke, his meat so that his customers have even less work to do, but the USDA regulations prohibit curing/cooking meat on land designated only for agriculture (Pollan). If the USDA were to modify its

Starting at the sunrise in the crisp air, throughout the hectic day, and until sunset, FFA was setting up panels, judging, and then taking down panels at day’s end. It was their annual participation at Beef Breeders. An event on the first Friday of February, where bulls are showcased , a trade show takes place, and a livestock judging at the Ag Advancement Center.

The Canadian Cattle Identification Program for beef cattle was originally implemented due to the mad cow crisis in 2001. These tags gave the industry a way to track diseases back to their source. Even though the program began in 2001 it was not fully enforced with penalty for not complying until July 2002 (1). Tags are to be applied to the calf/steer before leaving the

The cattle industry produces vast amounts of strain in the environment. It is energy inefficient, pollutes water, occupies many acres of land, and deteriorates the health of the people who abuse its consumption. The government subsidizes this industry. Therefore, the price paid for meat doesn’t reflect the environmental hazards involved in the process. In order to protect our health and the health of the environment we should pay close attention to our food choices and make sure we don’t support industries that degrade it.

Hidden in poor, rural towns, far from the public eye and concealed behind strategic advertising is a concept known as the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, or CAFO. These “operations” are the farms of the modern United States. On these farms, you won’t find

In “The Reporter”, a newspaper, with an article written by Mike McKee states the loss of a lawsuit including PETA vs California Cow Ads. The suit claimed that there had been false advertising emerging from the milk distributor on how they treated their cows in the process of gaining the company’s dairy products. In the commercial, the consumer saw beautiful, stunning green pastures with cows frolicking about with their freedom intact. The cows were enjoying themselves with delightful farmers, white picket fences, and barnyard scenery. PETA, however, claimed that the commercial accuracy was incorrect compared to the alleged lifestyle they did inhabit. According to the animal activists, "California cows actually lead harsh lives in grubby fields before being slaughtered." That is the reason they are fighting against the advertisements. The milk distributors were misleading the consumers. PETA claimed to know that the cows were kept in cramped stalls with no freedom and on land that contained not a single blade of grass. In turn, the cow’s walked amongst their own herd’s feces and other waste, creating an unsanitary environment. From this condition, cows are prone to udder infection and they could fall ill due to the environment that they live in. If the conditions stated before habitually continued, the cows could get sick and cause the dairy products to be contaminated or unhealthy for human consumption.

The Certified Angus Beef program differentiated its products in the Angus beef market in many different ways. First, the CAB used the USDA approval and the science based approach to the beef market from a different level consequently a higher level which allowed them to set higher prices to their products and make more profits. Second, on the seed-stock producers, cow-calf operators and feedlots’ level in the CAB value chain, people in charge focus on the quality of their products rather than the quantity like the rest of beef market producers which led to higher price levels in certified Angus beef products than any other Angus beef producer. In addition CAB used EID along its value chain to ensure its high quality production because the

Rebecca Elizabeth Mondics, August 2013, Where are the beef cattle? An economic analysis of the changes in the cattle cycle, Approved for the department of agricultural economics and for the graduate school, Published Montana State University Bozeman Montana, DOI: http://scholarworks.montana.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1/2915/MondicsR1213.pdf?sequence=1

The beef seen daily by an average American probably looks like this: red, juicy, and in a freezer in the local Wal-Mart with a price label attached to the plastic packaging. Or maybe the beef is being served at a high class restaurant, already prepared for consumption. However, consumers and shoppers do not realize what goes into producing safe and good quality beef for their everyday meals. Although many experts have different theories on how the cattle market is disturbed, the biggest issue in the beef industry is the level of sickness being low in order to have a successful buying and selling process for healthy cattle.