Re: [asa] Cows, diet, and warming

Allan,
 
These are excellent questions that I simply don't have answers to. I'm not one who would promote the complete stoppage of eating beef or drinking milk, so other solutions must be sought. Obviously when we step to this level, a whole slew of new problems and questions and complexities arise that must be dealt with intelligently. Knee-jerk, overly simplistic reactions rarely are the correct action to be taken, in my opinion. These are the kinds of questions that Christians need to be asking and seeking answers to. However, your insightfulness is I think rather rare among Christians. To get the Church to even this point of asking the right questions would be an accomplishment. There are so many important and urgent issues facing society today that Christians need to be fully engaged with, and tackling head-on.
 
Best,
Charles

>>> <SteamDoc@aol.com> 1/6/2007 6:51 PM >>>

Here's an attempt to inject something constructive and practical into our current discussion about global warming.
 
It has been pointed out that methane from cattle plays a not-insignificant role in the human-caused increase in greenhouse gases. So, it makes sense that those of us Christians who care about stewardship of God's creation might at least consider this in making dietary choices. But one does not want to make knee-jerk changes without practical effect (especially since some of my wife's relatives make their living from cattle ranching ...). So, I have two questions where I hope somebody here can supply (or point to) some practical information that can inform our stewardship:
 
1) Is this methane emission issue unique to cattle? Or do other animals (pigs, chickens, etc.) also produce methane? If I eat pork or chicken instead of beef, will that reduce greenhouse gases, or not?
 
2) What is the relative importance of beef consumption to dairy consumption in this issue? Can I find a number for how much methane emission corresponds to one pound of beef, versus how much corresponds to a gallon of milk?
 
Allan
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Dr. Allan H. Harvey, Boulder, Colorado | SteamDoc@aol.com
"Any opinions expressed here are mine, and should not be
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Received on Tue Jan 9 10:18:32 2007