Let’s find a way to open the gate
Written for the High Plains Journal.
I thought it was time to shed some positive light on the beef business. As we all know, the cow has been under attack, but the truth of the matter is that global demand for beef and beef consumption continues to soar. I should clarify that the cow is not really under attack but rather being used as a tool to get to those who own her. In the United States, the folks who own cattle are the most independent-minded, freedom-loving people on the planet. That is what is under attack. Mark my words, we are just starting to see the rhetoric about the “zoonotic” HPAI that is now jumping species and headed for humans. Blame for that too will be placed squarely on the cow.
Here is one statistic that might surprise a lot of folks. Despite the attention continually given to those who choose not to eat meat products, the world is made up of beef eaters. In 2020, the global consumption of beef reached 130 billion pounds. We must continue to shout the great story of ruminants and remind folks that 74% of the earth’s surface is not suitable for growing food for people. However, a ruminant will consume the cellulose material and upcycle it into the most nutrient dense food substance for humans on the planet.
The United States continues to rank as the top beef-eating nation, consuming 21% of the world’s total beef supply or about 27.6 billion pounds annually. For the record, we are primarily ground beef consumers and that is why we continue to be the largest beef importer in the world as well.
Although on a per capita basis, we do not hold the title as top beef consumers. Argentina tops that list at 103 pounds per person. For the record, their beef consumption is much different than ours as we eat primarily drive through burgers on the run while Argentinians consume their beef in bbq pit style with whole muscle cuts cooked on a fire.
The interesting story in the global beef complex to me is India. The country proudly boasts an inventory of 307 million head of cattle, yet they are not beef eaters. In fact, India is at the bottom end of the list with beef consumption at 6.5 lbs. per capita annually.
Interestingly enough, the data suggests that India has moved into 4th place as a beef exporter. It is worth noting that India exports a tremendous about of water buffalo meat to keep them surging in the global numbers. As a side note, my friends in North America no longer raise “buffalo” but rather refer to them as “bison” mostly because they do not want to be confused in the marketplace with water buffalo from India.
While the United States was able to hold the 3rd spot is the global beef trade, one must wonder how we can continue to be the strong leader in this regard if our cattle inventory cannot find the bottom and get turned around real soon. I don’t think I need to tell anyone that our cattle inventory is currently running at a 70-year low.
To me that is the real problem. If you only pay attention to the force-fed, major media, you will believe that the global consumer is running away from beef and meat across the board and nothing could be farther from the truth. The demand for beef in every corner of the planet continues to grow rapidly but the challenge will be who can afford to buy it.
It is clear to me that the play is to simply create hurdles in production that work on the cattle inventory. When the first $120 for each calf sold every year goes to pay property tax, you know it is going to be an uphill battle. Add to that a whole new series of “safeguards” like a national electronic ID system that may appear to be a small thing on the surface but the small things are adding up to be large obstacles.
Everyone wants to blame the drought. I will not argue that drought has been a major factor in cow herd reduction but history tells us that where there is a dollar to garner, the U.S. farmer/rancher will create a way to find green grass. Therein lies the problem, the sun needs to shine and the grass needs to turn green. We have a growing demand for the high-quality, nutrient dense food product called beef and a bureaucratic gate closing off the next paddock to the green, Let’s find a way to open that gate and continue to feed the people.