Source: Animal Health Digest
The U.S. beef cattle industry has made significant improvements in productivity, efficiency, and environmental sustainability over the past 50 years, according to research by agricultural engineer Al Rotz. Comparing production in 1972 and 2022, researchers found that advances in cattle genetics, feed production, equipment, and management have allowed producers to generate more beef with fewer resources.
Despite harvesting 14% fewer cattle, the industry increased total beef carcass production by 23%. Improvements in crop yields and production efficiency reduced overall land use by 11%, water consumption by 25%, fossil energy use by 23%, and greenhouse gas emissions by 11%.
When measured per unit of beef produced, environmental improvements were even greater. Land use declined 29%, fossil energy consumption fell 41%, and greenhouse gas emissions decreased 31%. Phosphorus runoff also dropped 65%. The findings demonstrate substantial progress toward sustainability while highlighting the beef industry’s ability to increase production and reduce environmental impacts.
Read the full story HERE: https://animalhealthdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/beef-septemberoctober-2026.pdf