DR TEMPLE Grandin, the US scientist who used her autism to revolutionise handling methods and chutes for the humane treatment of cattle, has weighed in on the question of environmental impact of livestock, claiming that properly managed grazing actually improves the land.

With over 100 references, the innovative doctor evidenced her case in a recently-released academic paper and argued that livestock are a natural part of the cycle of life and discussed four basic types of grazing that exist.

The paper covered a wide range of soil types, climates and topographies from around the world, including the “Arid, Hot Australian Outback”.

“This paper contains a combination of observations I have made during a 50-year career in the cattle industry, combined with references from scientific research.

I have visited ranching operations in many different countries during my work as a livestock handling consultant …sheep and cattle grazing in every state and province in the U.S. and Canada.

In Central and South America, I have been to Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile.

In Europe, I have visited cattle pasture operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Denmark, and Portugal.

Other places I have visited are the Australian Outback and the green hills of New Zealand.

I have learned from my extensive travels that there are vast amounts of land that can only be used for grazing.

The first type of land is too arid and hilly to raise crops.

Some examples are the high desert in Arizona, Sand Hills in Nebraska, Texas Panhandle, and the Australian Outback.

The second type of grazing land has higher moisture but it is also too hilly and rough for growing crops.

Some examples in the U.S. would be the hill country in eastern Kentucky and southern Missouri.

The green, steep hills of New Zealand are another place where grazing is the only option.”

Dr Grandin said the livestock industry has been unfairly attacked with “at least 20 per cent of the habitable land on Earth … not suitable for crops” but “ruminant animals are the only way to produce food on these lands”.

She also said choice of breeds was critical.

“I observed that the animal that performs best in an extensive grazing environment is not the same animal that performs well being fed grain in a feedlot.

When I visited the hot Australian outback, I quickly learned that purebred British breeds could not survive there.

Ranchers told me that they tried using Angus sires and they all died.

For heat tolerance, it is essential to have cattle with high percentages of Bos indicus breeding.

These cattle can have good welfare if they eat sufficient forage to maintain body condition.”

Recovery times for the cash crops and using livestock to graze cover crops was also discussed.

“Grazing livestock are also being successfully used to graze cover crops on prime farmland.

Soil health is improved when grazing on a cover crop is rotated with conventional cash crops, such as corn or soybeans.

It also reduces the need for buying fertilizer.”

Dr Grandin’s conclusion argued for a balanced approach to get the best results and claimed phase out of animal agriculture was unrealistic and would ultimately not help the environment.

“I observed that it was difficult for people to determine what was optimal production versus maximum production.

Both the scientific research and practical applications indicate that both overgrazing and no grazing is detrimental to the land.

There needs to be just the right amount of grazing.”

The paper can be found at mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/16/2092