REFERENCES FOR “BETTER MEAT”/ HUMANE ANIMAL AGRICULTURE

Barre´ T, Perignon M, Gazan R, Vieux F, Micard V, Amiot M-J, et al. (2018) Integrating nutrient bioavailability and co-production links when identifying sustainable diets: How low should we reduce meat consumption? How low should we reduce meat consumption? PLoS ONE 13(2): e0191767

Bernués A, Ruiz R, Olaizola A, Villalba D, Casasús I. Sustainability of pasture-based livestock farming systems in the European mediterranean context: Synergies and trade-offs. Livestock Science. 2011;139(1-2):44-57.

• Looking at this complex picture, the researchers realized that in many regions livestock farming is something that needs to be proactively protected, rather than diminished. But if we want to align it with environmental targets, we need to make it more sustainable, and adaptable to the extremes of climate change-efforts that are currently chronically underfunded, they say.
• They focused their analysis on 132 LMICs, looking at the vulnerability of livestock systems in each nation, as well as the contribution each made to global greenhouse gas emissions. They also considered what mitigation measures (to reduce livestock-associated emissions), and adaptation measures (to help livestock systems cope with climate change), could be achieved in each place.
• Notably, five key locations instantly rose to the top of the pile: India, China, Brazil, Sudan, Pakistan. In all of these countries, the livestock sectors showed encouraging potential for both mitigation and adaptation to deliver large benefits. Collectively, livestock systems in these countries are responsible for over half of the total emissions from the 132 focus countries, and yet they are also home to 35% of the global rural population most vulnerable to climate hazards. 
• What would some of those actions-and investment opportunities-look like in practice? A good example is silvopastoral systems where trees are planted on pasturelands, which both increases carbon storage on farmland and also shields livestock against the heat, increasing survival rates and improving farmers’ bottom lines. Another is for farmers to switch to local forage plants instead of relying on commercial feed. This not only reduces the climate impact of massive feed production worldwide, but the reliance on climate-resilient food breeds could also insulate farmers against climate shocks. Rotational grazing preserves soil carbon and fertility, which also generates more forage for grazing animals.”

•  Beef from grass-fed contains lesser total fat than that from grain-fed in all breeds of cattle. 
• The findings signify that grass-fed beef could exert protective effects against a number of diseases ranging from cancer to cardiovascular disease (CVD) as evidenced by the increased functional omega-3 PUFA and decreased undesirable SFA. 
• Grain-fed beef contained higher total monounsaturated fatty acid that have beneficial roles in the amelioration of CVD risks than grass-fed beef

Provenza FD, Kronberg SL, Gregorini P. Is Grassfed Meat and Dairy Better for Human and Environmental Health?. Front Nutr. 2019;6:26. Published 2019 Mar 19.

Yifei Ma, Yong Hou, Pengbo Dong, Gerard L. Velthof, Weitong Long, Lin Ma, Wenqi Ma, Rongfeng Jiang, Oene Oenema, Cooperation between specialized livestock and crop farms can reduce environmental footprints and increase net profits in livestock production, Journal of Environmental Management, 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113960, 302, (113960), (2022).