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In reply to the discussion: McDonald's to trim menu, examine ingredients [View all]mucifer
(23,537 posts)64. Here is some info from the NYTimes:
Grass-grazing cows emit considerably more methane than grain-fed cows. Pastured organic chickens have a 20 percent greater impact on global warming. It requires 2 to 20 acres to raise a cow on grass. If we raised all the cows in the United States on grass (all 100 million of them), cattle would require (using the figure of 10 acres per cow) almost half the countrys land (and this figure excludes space needed for pastured chicken and pigs). A tract of land just larger than France has been carved out of the Brazilian rain forest and turned over to grazing cattle. Nothing about this is sustainable.
Advocates of small-scale, nonindustrial alternatives say their choice is at least more natural. Again, this is a dubious claim. Many farmers who raise chickens on pasture use industrial breeds that have been bred to do one thing well: fatten quickly in confinement. As a result, they can suffer painful leg injuries after several weeks of living a natural life pecking around a large pasture. Free-range pigs are routinely affixed with nose rings to prevent them from rooting, which is one of their most basic instincts. In essence, what we see as natural doesnt necessarily conform to what is natural from the animals perspectives.
The economics of alternative animal systems are similarly problematic. Subsidies notwithstanding, the unfortunate reality of commodifying animals is that confinement pays. If the production of meat and dairy was somehow decentralized into small free-range operations, common economic sense suggests that it wouldnt last. These businesses no matter how virtuous in intention would gradually seek a larger market share, cutting corners, increasing stocking density and aiming to fatten animals faster than competitors could. Barring the strictest regulations, it wouldnt take long for production systems to scale back up to where they started.
Advocates of small-scale, nonindustrial alternatives say their choice is at least more natural. Again, this is a dubious claim. Many farmers who raise chickens on pasture use industrial breeds that have been bred to do one thing well: fatten quickly in confinement. As a result, they can suffer painful leg injuries after several weeks of living a natural life pecking around a large pasture. Free-range pigs are routinely affixed with nose rings to prevent them from rooting, which is one of their most basic instincts. In essence, what we see as natural doesnt necessarily conform to what is natural from the animals perspectives.
The economics of alternative animal systems are similarly problematic. Subsidies notwithstanding, the unfortunate reality of commodifying animals is that confinement pays. If the production of meat and dairy was somehow decentralized into small free-range operations, common economic sense suggests that it wouldnt last. These businesses no matter how virtuous in intention would gradually seek a larger market share, cutting corners, increasing stocking density and aiming to fatten animals faster than competitors could. Barring the strictest regulations, it wouldnt take long for production systems to scale back up to where they started.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/opinion/the-myth-of-sustainable-meat.html?_r=0
There is more info in the article.
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Is it wrong of me to think that a Sausage and Egg McMuffin is the perfect breakfast?
Nye Bevan
Dec 2014
#4
Got cancer? what's wrong is McD farmers' treatment of animals & poisons in the food chain
wordpix
Dec 2014
#19
the majority of the millions of cattle on our almost free public lands are export meat.
Sunlei
Dec 2014
#58
Once in a while, it definitely hits the spot. Same goes for a Big Mac and fries lunch. n/t
nomorenomore08
Dec 2014
#40
They can start by getting rid of the MSG aka autolyzed yeast in their crispy chicken and fries.
Hugin
Dec 2014
#6
I'm not especially concerned, but it is one more (or less) artificial additive in one's food. n/t
nomorenomore08
Dec 2014
#41
Someone who calls themselves "Earth_First" is telling someone to observe...COSTCO.
Dreamer Tatum
Dec 2014
#36
a "Create Your Taste" program that lets people pick the buns, cheeses and topping for their burgers.
Thor_MN
Dec 2014
#11
I don't hit up drive-thrus too often anymore, but when I do I usually get stuck behind the one guy
nomorenomore08
Dec 2014
#43