there is no such thing as a byproduct of beef. All the parts of the cow that are not converted into human food (the muscle), DIRECTLY contribute to the wealth and worth of the animal for the farmer. It would be impossible for the farmer to make enough money on selling the muscle alone: he relies directly on the market for the skin (to be made into leather clothing), the bones, cartilage, and fat to be made into other food products, pet foods, soaps, candles. If we continue to prop-up the value of the cow, we will never be able to raise less of them. It takes 2,646 gallons of water to produce one POUND of beef. Think about that. The more we need the byproduct, the more we will continue to raise cattle, the more damage to the environment from water use, sewage run-off, fertilizer contamination, antibiotic use (and development of human resistance to), not to mention all of the human diseases linked to eating animals: diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, colon, prostate and breast cancer... The list goes on. Educate yourself instead of relying on the government (who is inextricably tied to the beef and dairy industry) for your information. There is NOTHING GREEN about this new use of cow and cattle fat.
Watch "Food, Inc.", "Fast Food Nation", "Earthlings". Read "Diet for a new America", "The omnivore's Dilemma", or the 2006 report by the United Nations on the destruction of animal agriculture to our environment :
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?newsID=20772&CR1=warningDon't take my word for it, but take personal responsibility and research the topic yourself. It will shock you. You will see for yourself what is being hidden from your eyes. Education=power. Take advantage of your free access to this information just below the surface of the mainstream media.
Thanks for reading. Peace.
Charlotte
New York
