[rhinoceraptor]

That's not really accurate, the vast majority of water "used" in beef production is green water. That is, rainfall and ground moisture in the grass that cattle eat, which obviously is subsequently urinated out and reincorporated into new grass and new topsoil. And the majority of what cattle eat, even conventional beef, is grass.

The amount of blue water use, that is, irrigated water pumped from aquifers and water bodies, is about 240 gallons per pound of beef [1]. Compare that with almonds, which clock in at about 630 gallons per pound [2].

If you use the misleading numbers that prevail in most publications, that's where you get the around 1800 gallons figure, since about 95% of that is green water.

1: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X1...

2: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X1...

[ncmncm]

That assumes the cattle are eating only grass, when in fact they are fattened for months on grain that has been irrigated.

[rhinoceraptor]

That first study was for conventional CAFO beef, it breaks down the component blue water usage from corn, soy, hay, grains, etc.

[frumper]

Driving up and down the state doesn't show a ton of grain being grown here, so either way the water isn't taken from California aquifers.

[ncmncm]

Last time I drove to Livermore, I passed one hell of a lot of maize.

[mistrial9]

> 1800 gallons figure, since about 95% of that is green water

ninety-five percent of a previously cited number is actually OK?