Bezos donates to AAA?!! Petition going around!!

[Richnm]

https://chng.it/mmgKmGCj6n

 

[Richnm]

Please share.

 

[Stickney94]

Well, the cattle industry (particularly the beef industry) has done a horrific job attempting to respond to the narrative surrounding climate change. It appears that Bezos's foundation also gave money to Univ of Nebraska for similar research as well as universities and research centers across the globe. Although the grand total of around $28 million worldwide is probably far to little to truly change the narrative.

Whether you like it or not -- customers do care about topics like this -- sustainability, climate change, increasing temps, crazy weather patterns, etc.

 

[TexasRancher]

....really chokes me up that some clueless groups blame cattle for excess methane and ozone depletion. Silly nonsense.

 

[Lucky]

I don't imagine the Beef industry will do much until a decline in Beef purchasing starts.

 

[W.B.]

I don't imagine the Beef industry will do much until a decline in Beef purchasing starts.

I guess we have too many cows on the planet. All the while the Bezos’s of the world are zipping around on their private jets. For those that prefer mealworms and grubs for protein I say go for it.

 

[Lucky]

I guess we have too many cows on the planet. All the while the Bezos's of the world are zipping around on their private jets. For those that prefer mealworms and grubs for protein I say go for it.

People are going to believe what they choose to believe. There's people out there bathing once a week because they're scared of tap water, yet they drink bottled tap water for $5. The whole world's definitely gone crazy.

 

[gizmom]

A perfect example of inviting the wolf into the henhouse

 

[Katpau]

The research will be a study on methane produced by cattle and attempting to find possible ways to reduce it. I believe the study will look into various feeding programs and different genetics. It sounds like an interesting study. I would like to know if there is a difference in methane for cattle on pasture compared to those eating different grains and whether different genetics or breeds produce different amounts of methane. Studies on cattle methane are happening already and I would prefer some of them to be done by cattle organizations rather than the alternatives. I say... Take the money.

I am including a link to the research project if anyone is interested.

https://www.angus.org/agi/research/methane-and-efficiency-research

 

[Mountaintown Creek Ranch]

I'm certainly not a climate expert although I have read quite a bit of literature regarding it.
It is my understanding that carbon dioxide level is .04 currently and if it was reduced .03 all plants die ???
I guess what really amazes me is the fact that very few seem to complain about other countries and how much pollution they generate.
I just don't understand why people aren't going crazy about China, India and some of the other countries that are major polluters of the environment.
The biogenic carbon cycle converts the methane into CO2 through hydroxyl oxidation in 12 years, then through photosynthesis the carbon is captured by plants which then is consumed by ruminants including cattle.
Maybe I'm missing something here but it sure does seem like there are much greater issues in our world's environment than cattle.

 

[Travlr]

The research will be a study on methane produced by cattle and attempting to find possible ways to reduce it. I believe the study will look into various feeding programs and different genetics. It sounds like an interesting study. I would like to know if there is a difference in methane for cattle on pasture compared to those eating different grains and whether different genetics or breeds produce different amounts of methane. Studies on cattle methane are happening already and I would prefer some of them to be done by cattle organizations rather than the alternatives. I say... Take the money.

I am including a link to the research project if anyone is interested.

https://www.angus.org/agi/research/methane-and-efficiency-research

I worry with all of these studies that they are beginning with an inherent bias and a formed conclusion that cattle are "bad"... and they forget that cattle (and all ruminants) have a very important function as a natural soil builder and soil health enhancer.
The focus on methane has some legitimacy in these times, but ruminants have evolved in a natural way along with the natural ways they have evolved to benefit the human friendly environment. There are even evolved prokaryotes that we specifically call "methanotrophes" that digest methane and turn it into components of a healthy atmosphere.
The people that are worried about methane so often forget that cattle do GOOD things. We call bees an essential keystone species because they pollinate crops. But cattle build and keep the soil healthy that crops grow in. Chemical fertilizers destroy soil over time.
We better start thinking about it as a whole system instead of just what we want to believe and prove.
Cattle on grass are a net benefit to the human friendly environment.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

There MAY be some difference in methane production between breeds. It's possible that there will be just as much variability between animals within the same breed as there is between breeds. I'm wondering (and think about it) if more could be done to reduce methane production by genetics by modifying the rumen bacteria (changing them) than by changing the breed. That said, you do get more change in methane production from cattle by changing the foodstuffs than changing the breed. Has anyone thought about the possibility that changing/altering the feedstuffs might change the rumen bacteria and the amount of methane produced from that aspect?

Another thing about CO2, there is a difference between CO2 produced by 'natrual' means and that produced by 'industry'. The 'black' CO2 produced by industry is being found to have a much higher negative impact (several times over) the negative impact of CO2 produced 'naturally'. Even if methane and CO2 could be/is reduced in livestock - 'significantly' - at a huge cost - it likely would not even budge the needle indicating an escalating methane and CO2 problem in the world. I'm not saying looking into methane production control in cattle is pointless, but I'd like to see a focus on something that might actually make a difference.

 

[Ky hills]

My thoughts on this are that the notion that cattle are bad for the environment is udder nonsense. (Pun intended)
Cattle were created to be a part of the world. The major problem is with man made pollution.
I’ve always viewed the act of cattle chewing their cud as a normal part of their design and a sign that they are healthy and that their digestive system is functioning normally.
My concern is that if there is an effort to reduce whatever comes from bovine burps then it might not be good for the cattle from a health standpoint.
The venture that the AAA has gotten into is not one of benefit for the cattle producers.
It’s pretty much akin to partnering with PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals) on a study of animal handling practices. Anybody with any sense would see that as a no win situation and this Bezos earth fund grant is no different.

 

[jshep]

I can make billions on vaccines for these bugs like they do cattle. How do they get the guts out oh wait the guts they will say adds more protein . Nothing can go wrong eating those bugs then let them stupid people eat bugs.

 

[jshep]

Let's get rid of some people we all put out CO2 . Get rid of billionairs first !

 

[Travlr]

 

[Dave]

I have no doubt that we could reduce methane produced by feed changes. I was involved in some research that reduced NO3 (nitrate) in cow manure by changing their diet. It can be done. The issues is it (the methane) an issue which needs to be addressed. Is the feed change economically feasible? What other issues to you create by attempting this change?

 

[CowboyRam]

Maybe my memory is a bit fuzzy, but it seams to me that there was a study years ago to feed seaweed to cows to reduce methane from cows. I wonder what ever happened to that.

 

[Travlr]

And again... are the benefits of cows to the ecology less, or more, important to the human friendly environment.

Ruminants produce methane... but they also produce essential organisms to maintain fertility in soil.

 

[wbvs58]

Our beef industry is a lot more dependent on export than yours is. A lot of markets as in Europe showing how we address net zero is important, whether it is right or wrong we have to be seen to be doing what they believe to be the right thing. They have put a lot of restrictions on their farmers so i guess it is only fair to them that they insist on similar standards on the meat they import.

Ken