Livestock Turn food we can’t eat into Protein

According to the UN FAO, 80% of the global agricultural land allocated to feed production consists of grassland and that over half of the grassland cannot be converted to cropland. Based on these figures and its research regarding cattle production globally, the paper calculated that 57% of land used to produce feed is not suitable for food production.

Those arguing for the elimination of animals from our food system are failing to recognize that livestock are incredible nutrient upcyclers. Only 13% of global animal feed (all animals for food, including chickens, pigs and cattle) is grain crops, according to United Nations FAO research, and only 32% of overall global grain production in 2010 was used to feed livestock.

A staggering 86% of global livestock feed consists of materials that we cannot digest as humans, like crop residues including stover and sugarcane tops, according to UN FAO research. Pigs and chickens are monogastrics (like humans) and cannot digest these products. However, ruminant animals like cattle, sheep, and goats can safely consume these materials and turn them into nutrient-dense protein for humans. 

When looking at what only ruminants eat, the numbers are even lower for grain, at only 10% of the diet for cattle globally. Grass and leaves make up 57.4% of the global ruminant feed ration. Yet, beef is villainized as a resource hog without consideration of how pork and chicken rely entirely on supplemental feed like grains.