[wil421]

Where did you get soy is the primary food source for cattle?

This article recommends no more than 20% soy in cattle’s diet. The article is from last year. [1]

>Researchers have found that when the oil content of the ration exceeds 7 percent, it can be toxic to the microbes in the cattle’s rumen and decrease digestibility. Too much oil in cattle rations will lead to scours (diarrhea), cessation of rumen fermentation and, eventually, death.

“Because of these limitations, the recommended upper limit of feeding would be about 20 percent of the ration,” Hoppe says. “Practical feeding levels are probably more like 2 to 3 pounds per head per day. At this low rate of supplementation, soybeans provide an excellent source of protein and energy.”

[1]https://www.drovers.com/article/soybeans-may-be-viable-cattl...

[unclewaltr]

Interesting, this might be why soy is pressed for its oil before being used as cattle feed. The resulting patties are used as feed and the oil byproduct is sold.

[wil421]

I don’t think that’s the case.

It is not feasible for a farmer to buy feed during the lifetime of the animal. It’s the reason they have huge pastures for grazing during warm months. During winter they are usually fed hay.

All beef is grass fed period. Some are finished at the end with corn or other dense grains (your soy patties).

Here’s an article from a Meat Scientist.

https://meatscience.org/TheMeatWeEat/topics/raising-animals-...

[1024core]

> All beef is grass fed period. Some are finished at the end with corn or other dense grains (your soy patties).

Visit the Harrison Ranch (on I-5, south-east of SF), and see for yourself how they're treated.

[mises]

I am not sure about california, but I can confirm that Texas beef is essentially all grass-fed. This is from observation and from speaking with ranchers I know. Grass-fed also has a better taste, in my opinion.

[cannonedhamster]

There is nowhere near enough grass to feed nearly all Texas cattle to marketable size in Texas. Nearly all commercial cattle are bred and born in Mexico from US genetic stock and transferred to the US for fattening with cattle feed because it is cheaper to breed in Mexico and feed in the US. Last I checked only about 3% of US beef was fully grass fed. So it's fully possible you know some grass fed ranchers, but it's unlikely that the second biggest export in Texas is possible without massive amounts of cattle feed. Grass fed beef tasting better is subjective but the costs associated with the process appear to dictate that to consumers it's something they are willing to pay for.

[DoubleCribble]

*mostly grass fed but with other supplemental feed.

Mad cow disease propagates from feeding cows the ground up bits of other infected cows.[0]

[0]https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/resourcesforyou/animalh...

[wil421]

There has been 6 cows infected with mad cow disease in the US[1] and only 4 cases in humans.[2]

[1]https://www.cdc.gov/prions/bse/bse-north-america.html

[2]https://www-m.cnn.com/2013/07/02/health/mad-cow-disease-fast...

[z_]

Except when the feed is actually sheep.