Holistic Herding - US Cattle Farmers Adopt Eco-Friendly Methods

US Cattle Farmers Adopt Eco-Friendly Methods
Holistic herding was first developed in Africa more than 40 years ago

Photo: VOA - E. Celeste

Massachusetts beef farmer Ridge Shinn uses holistic herding to reduce his carbon footprint.

Concerns about the climate-changing effects of carbon dioxide, or CO2, emissions in the United States have focused attention not just on big industrial polluters and automobile exhaust, but also on agriculture.

Farming and ranching contribute six percent of the country’s annual CO2 emissions. Beef production accounts for a third of that, which is roughly equal to the exhaust from 24 million cars. To lower these emissions, many American cattle farmers are adopting an environmentally-friendly ranching system first developed in Africa more than 40 years ago.

American Cowboys Ride in a Ranch in Southern Russia

American Cowboys Bring Beef Cows to Russia VOA - James Brooke | Shestakova, Russia May 12, 2011 Photo: VOA - D. Markosian American cowboys ride in a ranch in southern Russia After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russians ate most of their beef cows as the system of reproduction broke down.  Now American ranchers are working to rebuild Russia's herd. Darrell Stevenson, an American cowboy and cattle rancher, is not riding the black earth country of Russia to film a western movie. He is bringing American-bred beef cattle, American ranching technology, and American cowboy knowhow to Russia. After the Soviet Union collapsed, beef production in Russia also collapsed. People just ate the herds as the system of sustaining the cattle broke down.  Today, Russia, the world's largest nation, imports most of its beef.

National Beef Cook Off Grand Prize Offering $25,000

Want a chance to win a Grand Prize Offering $25,000 Cash and Trip to the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington, D.C.?

Do you have a beef recipe that is always a fan favorite at dinner parties?  Does your family swoon over your quick and delicious weekday dishes? This year, the 29th National Beef Cook Off® is kicking off a recipe contest for everyday home cooks and entertaining enthusiasts nationwide.  Beginning February 1, 2011, submit your best beef recipes online at http://www.beefcookoff.org/ for a chance to win $25,000 cash and a trip to the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington D.C.

"Rather than hosting a cooking competition, this year, we are conducting a national search to find the best beef recipes home cooks have to offer," said Sherry Hill, Cook-Off Program Manager for the American National CattleWomen, Inc., on behalf of the Cattlemen's Beef Board and the Federation of State Beef Councils.  "We're excited to offer four unique contest categories that demonstrate beef's versatility and encourage creativity with a variety of ingredients, cuts and preparation methods."

SOURCE of information - The Beef Checkoff Program
http://www.beefcookoff.org