The Plight of Cows
Our dear friends the cows have come under fire in the last few years as being drivers of climate change. Bovines are strong allies of humanity and in the right context are key players in lowering carbon, not increasing it. In this article I’ll explain how ruminants, the class of four-leggeds of which cattle belong, are necessary for human and planetary health.
TLDR:
Unlike mono-gastric animals, ruminants are a category of animals capable of converting plant polyunsaturated fats into saturated fats with bacteria in their rumen.
Carbon cycling is the a flow of carbon from the soil to the atmosphere back to the soil again with cows being an important facilitator for soil sequestration.
Beef and dairy are the biggest source of saturated fat for most Americans and has been decreasing for the last 100 years correlating with slower metabolism and metabolic disorders.
Industrial, chemical-based mono-cropping agriculture is arguably the biggest disruptor of the carbon cycle do to tilling, chemical inputs, depletion of nutrients.
Regenerative Ag, which includes cattle, has become the biggest hope in health and ecosystem restoration.
Beware of Bovear, the feed additive used to reduce methane from cow burps. No long term studies.
Ruminants are a class of herbivorous mammals characterized by a specialized four-chambered stomach that allows them to efficiently digest plant material. Examples of ruminants we eat are cows, sheep, goats, deer, bison, and elk. Compared to commonly eaten mono-gastrics like poultry or pork, one of the primary dietary values ruminants offer human health is through their conversion of polyunsaturated fats into saturated fats. This process, called biohydrogenation, is most efficient in ruminants.
Biohydrogenation is driven by many rumen bacteria. Some of the most studied are the Butyrivibrio and Ruminococcus species. By fermenting linoleic acid (grains), the most implicated PUFA in human chronic disease, these bacteria convert it into the pro-metabolic saturated fat stearic acid.The stearic acid produced by ruminants is stored in their organ and muscle meats as well as their milk.
Intriguing research by molecular biologist Brad Marshall has looked at the decreasing adipose composition (fat composition) of stearic acid in humans over that last 100 years (because of the rise of seed oils). Stearic acid is not only highly stable and relatively impervious to oxidation (compared to PUFA), but acts as a metabolic signal to mitochondria to upregulate energy production. As stearic acid decreases in human fat cells, metabolism slows. Increased stearic acid in adipose tissue increases insulin sensitivity and lowers visceral fat (fat around organs), the most dangerous kind of fat associated with all manner of metabolic disease. The highest food sources of stearic acid are ruminant tallow, butter, meat and cacao butter.
Why did nature create PUFA in the first place?
PUFA is the plant’s adaption to cell fracture during freezing temperatures - it makes the cell membranes more fluid and helps produce anti-freeze proteins. When herbivores (except ruminants) eat those high PUFA plants, the PUFA stores in their adipose tissue and that induces a state of metabolic slowing called torpor for the winter.
Most temperate latitude humans got their stearic acid from ruminants. Pork and poultry used to have a more balanced fat profile when the animals were foraging and rooting through the compost pile. But with the industrialization of monogastrics, these animals are fed seeds (grains) and their fat composition (like humans) has changed to more unsaturated.
To put this into perspective, a vegetarian-fed chicken will have a the same linoleic acid content in their fat as canola oil. That is also true for their egg yolks. All monogastric mammals, including humans, are experiencing torpor as a result.
For many people in the health movement there isn’t a question if bovines are healthy for human consumption. However, there is a question of them being healthy for the planet, especially with regard to atmospheric carbon.
The Undisturbed Biogenic Carbon Cycle
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. They convert this CO2 into carbohydrates, storing carbon in their root structures and the fungi surrounding them.
Ruminants, such as cattle, consume these plants, ingesting the stored carbon. They can utilize cellulose-rich plant material that is indigestible to humans and other monogastrics.
During digestion, ruminants produce methane (CH4) as a byproduct.This methane is released into the atmosphere through belching and manure.
Over approximately 12 years, atmospheric methane is converted back into carbon dioxide through hydroxyl oxidation.
In healthy ecosystems, a significant portion of carbon is stored in the soil. Grazing promotes carbon sequestration in grasslands when managed properly.
Disruptions to this natural cycle are occurring at both ends of the cycle. Carbon is being pulled out of the ground in high amounts for to hydrocarbon combustion. But, what’s worse is that its increasing unable to go back into the ground do to conventional farming.
Intensive tillage, monocropping, and chemical inputs from conventional farming disrupt soil ecosystems and deplete organic matter, releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere. Tilling exposes soil carbon to oxidation, causing a significant carbon flush, especially in spring. Because of the microbial decimation from pesticides and tilling, minerals can’t be shuttled to plant roots. The plants become stressed and less nutrient dense. Chemical fertilizers need to be used just so the plants can grow.
There’s approximately 895 million acres of Ag land in the USA with less than 1% of that cultivated organically, even fewer acres are regeneratively cultivated.
The argument against cows is that the increased methane caused by consumer demand of diary and beef has pushed atmospheric carbon levels higher than can be put back into the ground. Therefore methane needs to be lowered by reducing beef and diary consumption in order to curb carbon-induced climate change.
Almost all of our attention is being directed toward reducing the transfer of carbon into the atmosphere and very little is paid to what I consider orders of magnitude more important - putting it back into the soil.
Cows play a crucial role in carbon sequestration in soil through several interconnected processes.
Adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing mimics natural herbivore behavior, promoting healthy grassland ecosystems. Rotational grazing allows for optimal plant growth and recovery periods, enhancing carbon capture. Grazing stimulates grass regrowth, encouraging deeper and stronger root systems. This process increases the amount of carbon stored below ground in root biomass. Cow manure and trampled vegetation add organic matter to the soil. This organic matter is broken down by soil microorganisms, sequestering more carbon in stable forms.
Grazing also diversifies plant growth, supporting a rich soil microbiome.These microorganisms also play a key role nutrient cycling. Cow hooves create small indentations that increase water infiltration and aeration. Better soil structure enhances the soil's capacity to store carbon and water. Regenerative grazing favors perennial plants, which store more carbon in their extensive root systems compared to annuals.
Proper grazing management reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, lowering overall emissions from farm operations and the companies that produce them. Grazing cattle contribute to maintaining healthy grasslands, which are significant carbon sinks.This practice also supports biodiversity and wildlife habitats.
Studies have shown that regenerative grazing practices can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of beef production. For example, research at White Oak Pastures found that their multi-species rotational grazing system reduced net carbon emissions by 80% compared to conventional practices. White Oak Pastures is considered America’s largest regenerative farm with 3,000 acres under use.
Last year I was lucky to interview two leading voices in the regenerative farming space, Dr Elaine Ingham and Peter Byck.
Dr. Elaine has worked in the field of soil remediation for over four decades and is considered one of the world’s foremost soil biologist. One of the many astounding things I learned from her was that with regenerative farming practices, we could be carbon neutral in 6 years through soil sequestration. Her team has been able free vineyards in southern Spain and tobacco farms in Cuba from the need for irrigation through soil remediation.
Director Peter Byck started his investigative documentary filmmaking to discover the most powerful lever to pull to reduce atmospheric carbon. Because of his decade long journey beginning with Carbon Cowboys up to his most recent release, Roots so Deep, he is now putting all of his energy into regenerative cattle grazing using the methods outlined previously.
One of the worst ideas to popup in awhile is Bovear (3NOP). Bovaer is a cattle feed additive developed by Elanco/DSM-Firmenich to reduce methane emissions from cows, approved by the FDA in May 2024. Bovear specifically targets and inhibits the enzyme methyl-coenzyme M reductase, which catalyzes the final step of methanogenesis in methanogenic archaea (bacteria). It reduces the amount of Methanobrevibacter, the dominant methanogen genus in the rumen.
While Bovaer primarily affects methanogens, it will influence the crucially important biohydrogenation process outlined above by increasing hydrogen availability in the rumen. Changes in rumen pH and fermentation patterns can affect the activity of the bacteria involved in biohydrogenation, but these specific effects are conspicuously not reported from Elanco/DSM-Firmenich.
Is inducing dysbiosis in the cow rumen going to be healthy for the cow and subsequently for humans to eat? No long term studies have been done.
How disrupted is biohydrogenation if there’s a 90% reduction in methanogenesis? The hydrogen formerly used to make methane must go somewhere.
Increasing hydrogen will change the microbiome architecture in a similar way that introducing oxygen into the anaerobic environment of the human colon causes pathogenic dysbiosis.
Fortunately, you can opt out of this insane experiment by purchasing organic milk and meat as the FDA has only permitted its use in conventional cattle. Better still is to source these foods from your local, regenerative producers.
Simple Actions
Only purchase organic dairy and even better, regeneratively farmed dairy like Alexandre Farms.
If there’s a local dairy near you buy direct and let them know the consequences of using Bovear. We get ours from a local A2/A2 cow named Molly.
Increase your use of beef tallow and meat, and remove seed oils from your life.
Source low-PUFA pork, poultry, and eggs from producers like Fire Brand and Nourish Coop.
To your health,
Jonathan
This is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Consult with your physician or other health care professional if you have any concerns or questions about your health.
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