Cows on the Planet

Join Tim and Kim and Dr. Francis Fluharty of the University of Georgia as they talk about changes in cattle over the past 60 years, whether these changes can be sustained in the future, and the desirability of selecting for cows that are excellent swimmers for future floods.

Join Tim and Kim as they visit with Mark Aspin, Manager of the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Consortium in New Zealand. Much discussion of burps, farts and levies for ruminant-produced greenhouse gasses ensues.

Join Tim and Kim as they talk to Dr. Trevor Coates of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada about cow density, the situation in the Netherlands with excessive nitrogen and the possible need for more Dutch bakeries in southern Alberta.

References

Bai, Zhaohai, Xiangwen Fan, Xinpeng Jin, Zhanqing Zhao, Yan Wu, Oene Oenema, Gerard Velthof, Chunsheng Hu, and Lin Ma. “Relocate 10 Billion Livestock to Reduce Harmful Nitrogen Pollution Exposure for 90% of China’s Population.” Nature Food 3, no. 2 (February 10, 2022): 152–60. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00453-z.

Rütting, T., H. Aronsson, and S. Delin. “Efficient Use of Nitrogen in Agriculture.” Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 110, no. 1 (January 2018): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-017-9900-8.

Samanta, Prantik, Harald Horn, and Florencia Saravia. “Impact of Livestock Farming on Nitrogen Pollution and the Corresponding Energy Demand for Zero Liquid Discharge.” Water 14, no. 8 (April 15, 2022): 1278. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14081278.

Skeffington, R.A., and Emma J. Wilson. “Excess Nitrogen Deposition: Issues for Consideration.” Environmental Pollution 54, no. 3–4 (1988): 159–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/0269-7491(88)90110-8.

Sun, Bo, Linxiu Zhang, Linzhang Yang, Fusuo Zhang, David Norse, and Zhaoliang Zhu. “Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution in China: Causes and Mitigation Measures.” AMBIO 41, no. 4 (June 2012): 370–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0249-6.

Join Tim and Kim as they talk with Dr. Colleen Duncan of Colorado State University and Dr. Katie Steneroden of Iowa State University on potential cow-related pandemics of the future, the role of climate change in pandemics and the need for future fun fashion with hazmat suits in designer colors.

Join Tim and Kim as they learn that there is a lot more than the stereotypical sacred cow in India with their guest, Dr. Nitin Tyagi, of the ICAR National Dairy Research Institute.

Join Tim and Kim as they talk with Dr. Frank Mitloehner of UC Davis about how dietary choices affect green house gasses, teaching children to cook, and the need for better-looking scientists among other things

Join Tim and Kim as they talk with Dr. Sarah Klopatek of UC Davis and learn all the chewy bits of her recent comprehensive study on grass-fed beef economics, meat quality, and environmental impacts.

Join Tim and Kim as they discuss the sometimes negative view of agriculture in the media with Ben Wilson and Sarah Wray of Storybrokers Media House.

Join Tim and Kim as they welcome back Dr. Edward Bork of the University of Alberta to discuss his work on increasing carbon sequestration by judicious grazing by cattle. Are cattle the problem or part of the solution to climate change?

Join Tim and Kim as they talk about all your favorite potential residues in beef, from hormones and antibiotics to genetically-modified crops, with Dr. Joe Schwarcz, Director of the Office for Science and Society at McGill University.