Which emissions ? Manmade climate change emissions ? Because they are the only ones this is all about.
Our cows don't produce any of them, and neither do yours
.Could someone please, please explain this to the NFU ?
Eat less meat
- Thread starter delilah
- Start date
Which emissions ? Manmade climate change emissions ? Because they are the only ones this is all about.
Our cows don't produce any of them, and neither do yours
.Could someone please, please explain this to the NFU ?
Back to the OP. I have just listened again to yesterdays programme to get the accurate quote.
Kath Dalmeny: "there's pretty much a consensus now between all of the food and farming organizations that we need to eat less meat". And she is correct. NFU ? tick. AHDB ? tick.
All the slagging off of the media that goes on on here, it is just shooting the messenger.
Kath Dalmeny: "there's pretty much a consensus now between all of the food and farming organizations that we need to eat less meat". And she is correct. NFU ? tick. AHDB ? tick.
All the slagging off of the media that goes on on here, it is just shooting the messenger.
- Location
- Exeter, Devon
Interesting to see on the BBC website this morning that UK carbon emissions are estimated to be 13% down this year because of less road and air traffic. Just as many livestock around though!
Nick Adams
Member
- Location
- Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Which emissions ? Manmade climate change emissions ? Because they are the only ones this is all about.
Our cows don't produce any of them, and neither do yours
Could someone please, please explain this to the NFU ?
I'm sorry but they do have manmade C02 emissions from the fossil fuel derived inputs used. This could be a very low percentage - but not zero - for stock kept outside on unfertilised forage. To very high or 100% for stock kept on fertilised grazing and fed indoors.
I agree totally that the NFU have accepted not challenged the methane issue.
There are large amounts of natural methane production that man has little control over, when you get people talking about methane from farmed cattle, who ever is being interviewed should have these figures off pat, and the fact UK farming produces very towards the world total. If they haven't got one they should a prepared strap line that they say over and over again, that what politicians do, and they manage to sell things that are not true.
It should be also pointed out that farmers produce what the supermarkets and food outlets want to sell, and meat, often processed meat has become a snack, and not a main part of the meal. If they thought the price of the McD's or chicken nuggets was going to increase, somehow its always about cattle, perhaps there would be a more balanced discussion.
The worst thing is targets, because often in the effort to meet targets, to get grants things are done that in the long run, that are not really sustainable, and end up being counterproductive.
It should be also pointed out that farmers produce what the supermarkets and food outlets want to sell, and meat, often processed meat has become a snack, and not a main part of the meal. If they thought the price of the McD's or chicken nuggets was going to increase, somehow its always about cattle, perhaps there would be a more balanced discussion.
The worst thing is targets, because often in the effort to meet targets, to get grants things are done that in the long run, that are not really sustainable, and end up being counterproductive.
- Location
- Hampshire
They've just revamped our local Aldi, in the press release they said that they increased the size of the meat and fish counters. They have started selling plant based snacks etc, but they always seem to be left in the chiller cabinet when the meaty stuff has gone.
- Location
- Limousin
Which emissions ? Manmade climate change emissions ? Because they are the only ones this is all about.
Our cows don't produce any of them, and neither do yours
Could someone please, please explain this to the NFU ?
The best thing the NFU could do is rebrand itself something like Tory MP's do and become the Environmental Research Group. Gives it a far more nuanced and balanced look to the public.
What about the poor misguided Swiss country dwellers. They have spent generations exposed to the Methane percolating through the floor from the cows housed below.
It's no wonder that the only thing they're famous for is the Cuckoo Clock - even though it was a German invention ( at least according to Stephen Fry). But he actually spouts more boll ocks than me.
It's no wonder that the only thing they're famous for is the Cuckoo Clock - even though it was a German invention ( at least according to Stephen Fry). But he actually spouts more boll ocks than me.
kiwi pom
Member
- Location
- canterbury NZ
Which emissions ? Manmade climate change emissions ? Because they are the only ones this is all about.
Our cows don't produce any of them, and neither do yours
Could someone please, please explain this to the NFU ?
Beef production does have emissions, forget about the animal its everything else. Sheds, concrete, diesel, machinery and all the emissions generated from any crops that are also fed to the animal.
It's the systems that don't stack up well. As an example the farm my brother works on in Cheshire finishes cattle for a supermarket. A few weeks ago they combined the maize as the clamps were full, hauled it to the yard and instead of putting it through a roller mill, ran it through a contractors SP forager that was set up to do it. It's then stored and fed in a TMR to the permanently housed cattle. The emissions from all that goes onto the animal and that's just one ingredient of the ration. He's not the only one with an intensive system either. Having a maize paddock meant he didn't need a grass paddock but the maize is still part of the system.
The guy may also be an NFU member so they have to protect him too.
I'm not saying other foods don't have an impact, they may be worse, but cattle farming does have an environmental footprint.
Nah.
I have worked with cattle that never went out, and I have worked with cattle that never came in.
What they have in common is this: You could move all of the cattle in the UK to one end of the spectrum, and you could move them all to the other, and in neither instance would the man made greenhouse gas emissions of the UK change one iota. There is nothing wrong our side of the farm gate.
- Location
- Devon
What a ridiculous statement
You want to expand on that ?
- Location
- Devon
Perhaps we can agree methane from ruminants is merely part of a natural cycle, with no net gain of ghg.
However, if we're gonna criticise fossil fuel usage in importing produce, how can fossil fuel usage within ag not be an issue? To say there are no improvements to be made on that front is simply sticking your fingers in your ears and going "La la la" imo.
I’ve read that about 1% of the worlds fossils fuels goes in to producing nitrogen fert. I’ve also read that the internet consumes about 6% of the world’s electricity of which about 60% is produced using fossil fuels. So, would we better off focusing on reducing social media usage than eating less meat? I don’t know, I’m not a mathematician.
scatterbrainedlass
Member
- Location
- Lancashire
No, eat better quality meat. Eat locally sourced meat. Sure, eat less cheap, low welfare, of dubious origin meat. But good quality meat should be satisfying, filling and healthy. You don't need half a packet of chicken nuggets, a 4oz steak and plenty of veg and potatoes is a much healthier meal.
- Location
- South Molton
But electricity is green. Just look @Clive Green car.
Electricity is like beef, its not about the product but about how its produced!
Should people be looking at themselves as part of the problem or should they be blaming someone else cos it's easy? I dunno, I'm not a psychologist.
Not what I said.
Lets say that UK plc produces, for arguments sake, 100 t of manmade greenhouse gasses each year.
On 1st Jan, lets bring all of the cattle indoors for a year. What will the figure be next year ? 100 t.
Then on 1st Jan 2022 lets kick all the cattle out for a year. What will the figure be ? 100 t.
That's what I said.
Quite.
Different issue. Other side of the farm gate.