Hello;
Thanks for your note.
The article I posted was a news item based on a presentation.
I corresponded with the author and I posted his reply. I, too, would
like to see the details of their methods.
You mention day-long symposium on local organic meat. I have been
thinking about the benefits of organizing a SOLE-food day - to cover
not just meat, but all kinds of food and then gardening, canning,
distribution,
etc., etc. I think that the RCE (www.saskrce.ca) could take the lead in
organizing this -- but many people need to come together and decide how
to move forward... so that it comes from the community. We could try
to organize
something for the fall at the University: perhaps September? I say
that because
there is not time to organize one for March or April this year. I
know that September
is not ideal for all parties - but perhaps that could be a trial. We
could get some
feedback and then plan to have (an annual) one in March or April.
Best regards,
Daryl
--
On 6-Mar-09, at 10:36 AM, Jason Freeman wrote:
> Hi Daryl,
>
> I'm a little concerned with the thread regarding the supposed GHG
> benefits of grain versus grass fed livestock.
>
> The article did not go into enough detail regarding how the
> 'scientists'
> derived the volume of methane produced between
> Grass and grain fed cattle. It appeared they simply derived volume
> based
> on a calorie per calorie basis.
>
> A study last year pointed out that lamb raised in New Zealand but
> consumed in the UK represented less GHG than lamb raised and
> consumed in the UK. The main reason was that the New Zealand lamb was
> raised and finished on grass and the UK on grain.
>
> Mammals, including ourselves, tend not to emit that much methane
> when we
> eat a diet consistent with our physiology...meaning we fart
> and burp less. Cows are no different. It is extremely dubious to claim
> that cows designed to eat grass actually contribute to GHG versus
> grain fed cattle especially in feed lots where you have all sorts of
> health problems such as acidosis.
>
> The proper management of manure and pasture actually increases the
> farms
> soil organic matter and therefore one should see a net reduction of
> GHG
> from
> a properly managed grass fed operation. I would absolutely agree that
> multi-species livestock management is the way to go but this needs the
> development of a local food system to make it financially sustainable.
> Of course over grazing damages pastures but the whole point is to
> manage
> your farm properly.
>
> I believe grain fed can also reduce GHG by increasing soil organic
> matter if the feeding is done on an organic farm from grain grown on
> the
> farm with proper manure and pasture management. This is my
> experience at
> farmer direct which needs to be further quantified. A hybrid of
> grass/grain may end up being the most efficient way for an organic
> family farm, on the prairies, to utilize all of their resources to
> achieve economic sustainability given various market and weather
> fluctuations. For example, if you have a mixed operation, growing
> grain
> and raising grass-fed cattle, but your crop ends up being feed quality
> and the feed market price is unprofitable...what do you do, because
> you
> are a grass operation you can't feed the grain to your cattle.
> So you other option is to hold over the grain until the feed markets
> increase which then puts you in a speculative position.
>
> Maybe its time for a one day symposium regarding a local organic meat
> system up at the University. There is a lot of really exciting
> activity
> going on in Saskatchewan with people like Mark, Clear Creek, Keith Neu
> and a number of other groups who are raising organic livestock for
> sale
> in local/Sask markets. The farmers could share their visions on what
> constitutes healthy and sustainable livestock production and sale and
> where they want to head in the future. The goal would be to attract as
> many members of the public as possible so we can make the links to
> build
> this market.
>
> Just some thoughts.
> Best Regards,
> Jason
> ----
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> lofo@cs.uregina.ca
>
----
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