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I get this question A LOT. I got it during a recent talk and guess what… I WAS ABLE TO ANSWER IT LIKE A CHAMP. And now you can too.

Cow’s can’t catch a break!

First there was the nutritional attack using saturated fat and cholesterol. Now they are drinking too much water?!

 

What Cows Actually Do

TODAY cows and bison and other ruminants do pretty much the same thing that they have ever since they’ve been on this planet. Even in conventional farming situations they are raised on pastures for most of their lives:

  • They move across the pasture, eating natural vegetation, transforming the vegetation into their flesh for food for omnivores and carnivores
  • All the while adding back water, nutrients, and microbes back to the soil, fertilizing and rebuilding the soil.
  • Most of their water comes from the water that naturally falls on the land. most ot their water comes from the vegetation they eat – just like it always has!

 

False Numbers

The numbers typically quoted FOR THE water consumption for cattle and beef are almost always exaggerated.

The water amounts typically quoted are the estimated total amount of water consumed by the cattle over a lifetime.

What you don’t hear is that the majority of the water cows consume is water that would be there anyways, that falls on the land naturally through precipitation, absorbed by vegetation, without irrigation. Just like it always has!

A small % of the water is from what we would consider to be precious water resources and IRRIGATED water.

Cattle Water Consumption

  • 95% of cow water consumption is green water!
  • Less than 5% of water consumption by cows is blue water.

 

Cattle Advantages

  • Cattle occupy land in it’s pristine shape, the land does not have to be modified… In fact they occupy land that isn’t fit for crops
  • Cattle rebuild the soil.
  • An estimated 30% of the water they consume is put back into the environment.
  • Pound for pound, beef is one of the most nutritious foods you can consume.

Crop Disadvantages

The way most crops are farmed, they are NOT rebuilding the soil… in fact they do the opposite. Through repetitive farming, most crops create hard impacted dirt, which does not hold water and contributes to runoff.

In a lot of situations, YOU HAVE TO MANIPULATE THE LAND to make it fit for crops. make it flatter. which can contribute to runoff and soil depletion.

Plants typically require massive amounts of fertilizer, glyphosophate, insecticides, and herbicides.

Nutritionally, there is no comparison! Pound for pound beef beats any crop there is in protein, vitamins, minerals… except carbohydrates!

NOW this isn’t an argument against crops!
It’s an argument FOR beef!
It’s an argument in defense of beef!

I truly believe there’s a push for you to NOT eat meat because makes you strong.

If you want to be strong, clear minded, vibrant, and resilient, EAT MEAT. As you’re doing it, know that it isn’t just good for you, it’s good for all those around you and it’s good for the planet.

Let me know what you think of this information!

Paul C. Tijerina

Paul C. Tijerina | BS MFT CPT NLP | Nutritional Therapist & ATAVIST Life Coach