Critics frequently cite global numbers for the environmental impact of animal agriculture rather than using statistics specific to the U.S., where production practices have advanced to decrease greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and animal agriculture is responsible for just 4 percent of total GHG emissions. Livestock production in the U.S. is a model for the rest of the world for several reasons. We use advanced genetics, our livestock and poultry receive high-caliber veterinary care and we feed our animals optimal diets. For these reasons, animal agriculture is highly efficient in the U.S. and therefore has a smaller environmental impact compared to other countries across the globe. For example, the U.S. produces 18 percent of the world’s beef with only 6 percent of the world’s cattle. More >>
