Livestock Farming Practices
History of Industrial Farming
The origin of moving from pasture fed cattle to grain fed cattle is closely tied to the industrialization of farming. Small family owned & operating farms have been almost entirely replaced by large scale industrial farming operations.These operations have resulted in high rates of food production, which originate from moving to a model of raising animals in confinement, and feeding animals feed that are formulated to increase growth rates and feed conversion efficiencies
. While the number of beef cow operations in the United States has fallen by almost a quarter of a million since 1986, the number of beef cows has remained constant at about 33 million (Agri 101).
Post World War II there was were a large and rapid number of technical advancements which led farms from using animal power to harvest crops to relying on machines which produce crops quickly and at a smaller cost (Dimitri). Research on the effects of feeding cattle corn, for the purpose of fattening steers, was first released in the 1950s (Corah), which corresponds with the movement to industrialization. Industrial farming also introduced growth hormones and feed additives to improve the production of meat (Cite this article).
Cattle Diet: Grass vs Grain
The diet of cattle typically consists of grass eaten while foraging, although cattle raised for meat that are typically fattened in feedlots are fed a diet supplement with grains in order to increase the density of their diet.
The debate between feeding cattle a diet primarily composed of grass or a diet primarily composed of grain, corn, and other supplements is complicated. Scientists, industrial farmers, environmentalists, and the like approach the debate differently, and have different priorities in mind. While traditionally a farmer's productivity was inextricably linked to the welfare of the animals, modern industrial farming is no longer driven by the farmer's need to survive and sustain a livelihood. Instead, farming is driven by economic incentives, pushing farms to produce food more cheaply to increase profits. While there are economic and environmental pros and cons to feeding cattle grass versus grain, the following sections will focus on the scientific research done concerning the digestion of cattle, and the effects grain feeding has on acid resistant e Coli.
Beef is a significant source of protein in the American diet, with the average person consuming nearly 70 lbs of beef each year (Argi 101). The quality of the beef is directly related to animal feeding practices (Sapkota). The ingredients fed to the cows both affect quality of the meat products and the potential health impacts on both the cows and humans (Sapkota).
The beef industry in the US provides more than one million jobs. In addition, for every dollar of cattle sales, there is an about five dollars in additional business activity generated (Argi 101). The industry is clearly a large economic driver, and feeding animals grain helps cattle grow bigger faster. But what does this mean for the people/animals? What are the consequences of feeding cattle grain rather than grass?
How Cattle Digest Food
Unlike most animals with a basic one-compartment stomach, cattle have four distinct chambers of their stomach—the reticulum, the rumen, the omasum, and the abomasum. Animals with this type of digestive system are called ruminants. The video below provides a brief overview of the cow's digestive system.
There are some digestive issues of concern that can arise from the type of food cattle consume. Bloat is a common digestive disorder in beef cattle. While it most often occurs in feedlot cattle, it can also affect cattle consuming too much fresh grasses. Bloat results when cattle are prevented from eructating or belching, which helps release gases produced normally from microbial fermentation. Gas production may then exceed gas elimination causing pressure on the diaphragm and lungs. This compression can reduce or even cut off the animal's oxygen supply and result in death by suffocation.
Acidosis is another digestive issue that can arise when cattle are shifted from a forage-based diet to a high-grain diet. The chemical balance that facilitates fermentation in the rumen is greatly affected by the diet of the cow. A sudden change in diet, for example from mostly hay to mostly grain, can result in a rapid increase in acidity in the rumen. Acidosis can damage the lining of the rumen causing digestive disruption and dehydration.
The USDA produces a semi-annual "Cattle on Feed Report" available that highlights the number of animals being fed grain throughout the United States.
Acid-Resistant E. coli
Cattle are natural reservoirs for pathogenic E. coli, and cattle fed mostly grain have been shown to have lower colonic pH, meaning they are more acidic, thus creating an ideal environment for increased numbers of acid-resistant E. coli compared to cattle fed only hay. This is because the gastrointestinal tract of a cow digests starch poorly, therefore some under-digested grain arrives at the colon where it is fermented. The acidity and the acids accumulated in the colon are largely responsible for the production of acid-resistant E. coli.
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Research shows that grain-based cattle diets promote the growth of E. Coli, and such contamination is responsible for as many as 20,00 infections and 200 deaths each year, within the United States. Studies have found that cattle fed grain-based rations similar to those of CAFOs had 1 million acid-resistant E. coli, per gram of feces. By comparison, cattle fed hay or grass had only acid-sensitive E. coli, and these bacteria were destroyed by an "acid shock" similar to that of the human stomach.
The human stomach acts as a barrier to food-borne pathogens, but acid-resistant E. coli is able to withstand stomach acid and cause illness. To decrease instance of E. coli in humans, focus must be placed on decreasing the occurrence of acid-resistant E. coli, such as that which is found within cattle. Research has found that a brief period of hay feeding, as little as five days, reduces the number of acid-resistant E. coli in cattle to similar levels as if the cattle had been fed an all-grass diet their entire life. While in current industrial farming it is unrealistic to 100% switch cattle from grain back to grass diets, this research provides a relatively easy alternative. Additionally, studies indicate that the risk of food-borne E. coli infection is significantly decreased when cattle are given hay in the brief period before they are slaughtered.
The following clip from Food Inc. provides a brief overview of the issue of acid-resistant E. coli.
