For almost half a century, ruminants–specifically cows and cattle–have been repeatedly blamed and demonized for numerous environmental infractions.

These range from pollution (either manure or methane or both) to overgrazing and desertification, as well as a huge amount of resources used to feed them for the purpose of meat and dairy production.

While many of these concerns and accusations are indeed valid, it should not go without saying that such concerns have also been misinterpreted; many grossly overblown.

Below are the subpages–as well as their subsequent subpages–that address both popular concerns and common myths. Along with the debunking, a learning opportunity for alternative solutions may be in store for you.

We will look at the following:

• Water use & pollution by livestock farming,
• Land-use conflicts include marginal land use, land fragmentation, and land used for meat vs. plant-based
• Livestock grazing and associated conflicts and concerns with wildlife and wildlife habitats,
• Livestock and greenhouse gas emissions which include methane and carbon sequestration (or lack thereof),
• Manure management concerns,
• Fossil fuel consumption, and
• The ever infamous feed vs. food debate, as in the other issues that are not covered in the land-use section.

There is a lot of information to go through! Click the buttons below to find out more about the good, the bad, and the not-so-ugly truths and facts on ruminants and their multi-faceted interactions with the environment.