World Ark Magazine - May/June 2008 - (Page 23)

Livestock & Air On the face of it, “Livestock’s Long Shadow” would seem to be an indictment of livestock farming, but a closer look makes it clear that not all livestock farms are created equal. Problem: livestock production relies heavily on fossil fuels Fossil fuels are needed to make fertilizer for growing feed crops and to transport the crops once harvested. Meat processing and distribution cause even more carbon pollution. The animals themselves pollute the air by releasing methane. Solution 1: integrated farming Raising livestock and crops together creates a system where little, if anything, is wasted. Animal manure can be composted and used for fertilizer, and animal fodder is grown on-site, meaning little or no transportation. Solution 2: local diets For “foodies” here in the United States, eating locally is becoming as important as eating organically and saves significant transportrelated greenhouse gas emissions. Local eating is about more than taste in developing countries, where food sovereignty—the right and ability of a people to produce their own food—is a key ingredient for self-reliance. For Heifer project partners, growing their food themselves is healthier and less expensive. On the face of it, “livestock’s long Shadow” seems to be an indictment of livestock farming, but a closer look makes it clear that not all livestock farms are created equal. In thinking about these issues, it is helpful to divide livestock farms roughly into two categories: large industrial operations and small farms. Each has its benefits and its drawbacks, and each has its own set of problems. The term industrial livestock farming generally refers to a collection of farming practices, including Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and Intensive livestock Operations (IlOs), processes that include high-density containment of largely grain-fed livestock. As the names suggest, these intensive operations produce tremendous amounts of meat more cost effectively. They generally house animals in small pens not much larger than the animals themselves, or they confine multiple animals in a single pen. These practices produce larger amounts of waste per S mall Farms vs. Big Operations Solution 3: Better feeds Improving animals’ diets can improve their digestion, cutting down significantly on the amount of methane they release. May/June 2008 | WOrlD Ark www.heifer.org 23 http://www.heifer.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of World Ark Magazine - May/June 2008

World Ark Magazine - May/June 2008 Contents Letters For the Record The Good Life Asked & Answered Why Water Matters The Carbon Hoofprint From Farm to Table Healing History Mixed Media Heifer Spirit Heifer Bulletin World Ark Market Calendar First Person

World Ark Magazine - May/June 2008

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