Power Steer

[cakadu]

I wasn't sure where to post this, but given recent discussions, I thought this might be the place.

The article "Power Steer" appeared in the March 31, 2002 edition of the New York Times. You can hopefully access it by cutting and pasting (or hopefully even clicking on it) this URL into your broswer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/31/magazine/31BEEF.html

If not, go to www.nytimes.com and in the search area type in Power Steer and it should come up.

How do you feel about an article like this? Anybody for steak?

[wilagro]

I think that the 'Power Steer' article was very well done. I prefer barley fed beef as compared to the corn fed beef.
I worked a couple of years in a packing plant when I was a young man. It was an eye opening experience. I raise a few cows now and have always liked cattle.
Antibiotic usage is used only when absolutely necessary on my farm.

Best regards.

[pandiana]

A very thoughtful and well researched pasture to plate saga detailing the life of a single steer. This article deals with sensitive issues such as the ecological effects of confined livestock, antibiotic resistance, humane treatment of animals, zoonotic disease, all in a mostly non-judgemental manner well grounded in fact. Not too unlike the story of Lulu outlined in another thread but maybe more focused on current issues.

Thanks for the reference. I will pass it on.

[rodbradshaw]

Cakadu
It makes you wonder about the next piece of meat you eat. Unfortunately, unless 1 billion want to stop and get off this planet, this is how agriculture is going to work. We can't all become vegetarians as those crops are also high fossil fuel users and to grow it naturally and or organically we would have to tear up a lot of groung that is presently sheltering wildlife. Have you read Dennis Avery's book "Saving the Planet with Pesticides and Plastics", it is an interesting read and presents a different view to the natural and or organic view point.

The one thing that got me about the "Power Steer" article was the extreme amount of grain (corn) that was pushed to the cattle in the article, especially to the weaned calves. It's been a long time since I fed a 4-H calf but it is no wonder that they are burning out livers in those calves given the grain in the ration.

[cakadu]

Hi Rod. The friend that told me about this article does raise grass fed beef and her kids were raised on it. Apparently her son took some time to be able to stare his steak in the face again, so that says something.

No I haven't read the book by Dennis Avery but I sure would like to. It is out of print now, so I'm not sure where I'll be able to put my hands on it.
Do you have a lending policy?

[Deb]

I thought it was a great article and I'm passing it on to my urban sisters.

[ianben]

A very informative article. Interesting from my point of view as the differences in Europe where highlighted.
Our system is definatly less intensive yet we are the ones with BSE and foot and mouth.
It was interesting to note the guy was not allowed through the blue door in the US.
In the Lulu TV program the camera showed the whole thing stungun throatcutting bleeding the lot on national TV.
This kind of article is obviosly thought provoking but could any other modern so called civilized industry survive such an inquisition.
How many gallons of oil are used in the manufacture maintainance and running of the family car? How much tax is spent on road building and maintainance? How much healthier would we be if we walked off our corn fed beef? What are the health risks from exhast fumes?
I am always amazed tobaco smokers will stop eating beef because of the risk of CJD.