Global warming is a widely researched subject. Global warming refers to the change in our climate due to excess greenhouse gases heating the earths core. National Geographic News says that the “average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius) around the world since 1880” (National Geographic News). The earth’s temperature is not only increasing, the rate in which it is rising is also increasing. National Geographic News writes that “ The 20th century’s last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia, according to a number of climate studies” (National Geographic News). As the temperature gets higher the sea levels begin to rise because ice caps and glaciers are melting. If the sea levels rise enough parts of the earth could begin to get covered in water causing a threat to humans. The earth is at risk of extreme weather change “such as wildfires, heat waves, and strong tropical storms” (National Geographic News). One of the main contributors to Global Warming are greenhouse gases such as methane. To reduce greenhouse gases, breeding of cows would be eliminated through government reinforcement.
Cows produce a lot of the methane the greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. Methane is a very powerful greenhouse gas that cows are producing, “ by burping , belching and excreting copious amounts of methane- a greenhouse gas that traps 20 times more heat than carbon dioxide” ( Singh, 1). Carbon dioxide is another greenhouse gas that is usually associated with cars, but it is not as affective as methane. There are some people who believe that global warming and greenhouse gases are not a problem. Some scientists acknowledge the warming of the earth but believe it is just a trend. They argue that “‘... humans might have caused a very slight amount of this warming. Very slight. But this warming trend is not going to keep on going. My belief is that three, four years from now, the globe will start to cool again, as it did from the middle '40s to the middle '70s.’” (Harysanyl, 1). They believe the trend of warming will decrease and the temperatures will drop back down to normal. But there is a problem with that belief, the problem is that those who believe global warming is not a problem are the minority. The evidence is out there, there are copious amounts of research proving that this is more than just a trend. There are also many people that are unfamiliar with the concept of global warming and simply chose to ignore it and not believe it. Though with all of the evidence and research it has been proved as a problem.
To solve the problem of global warming greenhouse gases need to decrease. To decrease greenhouse gases methane needs to decrease, and cows are large producers of methane. Therefore cows need to slowly be eliminated. To achieve this goal all cow breeding will be put to a stop, if cows stop breeding then the cows will slowly die off. To ensure that the cows stop breeding the males and females need to be separated. The usual breeding processes held by ranchers must be put to an end. Free roaming cows need to be monitored and tracked to keep them from breeding. Cows are not the only animals that produce this gas but by eliminating one the amount of gas entering the environment can be reduced.
As with any proposed solution comes the opposition. This solution will most likely cause a problem with ranchers. Ranchers will oppose this solution because they breed cows to make money. They also sell their livestock for butchering, milk production, and leather. By eliminating cows this will eliminate a part of a ranchers income. Although until the cows are fully eliminated ranchers will still be able to see their cows for butchering and milk production because that will help aid in the elimination process, so they can still make money from selling their cows. Also with the rising prices of produce feeding cows is much more expensive and is lowering the profit made by ranchers on cows. In a New York Times article a Missouri farmer determines that the profit made from breeding cows is low: “‘Net profit to feeder, $2.27.’ No allowance is made’” (Cost of Raising Cattle). Therefore eliminating cattle production would not make a very large impact in a farmers income. Farmers also do much more than raise cows: they grow crops, raise pigs and chickens, and many other animals.
There are also everyday citizens that may have a problem with this proposal. Many people consume meat on a daily basis, beef being one of them. So they might be upset that they are losing that kind of meat all together. But studies are showing that more and more people are eating less beef because of health concerns. In an article by Rick Husted he shows that “Males eat more beef than females and like it more than chicken. However, consumers overall say they are eating beef less frequently now than they were a year ago and cite nutrition and health concerns as the major reason.” (Husted, 48). If this trend continues people generally wont struggle as much with the thought of losing beef from their diet. Also there are many other types of meat that they can still eat such as chicken, which has better nutrition than beef.
Companies such as dairy producers might also have a problem with the proposed solution. Dairy companies use cows milk to produce all kinds of dairy foods like: yogurt, milk, ice cream, and cheese. All around the world people consume these products daily providing the dairy company with a large income. But there is a solution to this problem. There are now many different types of milk substitutes that have properties very similar to milk. Substitutes such as soy milk, almond milk, and rice milk, can all act as a replacement for milk. The dairy companies can use milk substitutes to create the same products, like ice cream and yogurt. So they can still make money and wont have to adapt much at all. The process of making soy milk is simple enough that people can make it at home, “Soy milk is made by soaking soybeans, grinding them with water. The fluid which results after straining is called soy milk. You can make soy milk at home with basic kitchen tools or with a soy milk machine.” (Soya). Because the process is so simple former dairy companies wont have a problem making the milk. People may want to start making their own milk at home and the dairy companies could lose money. But most people will still buy the milk and other products that can’t (as easily) be made at home such as yogurt and ice cream. Therefore the companies shouldn’t struggle too badly.
Since the profit made from raising cows is very minimal and dairy needs can still be met without the use of cows, cows should be eliminated. First to begin eliminating the cows the government needs to enforce the plan by encouraging ranchers to keep cows separated. If the ranchers oppose they will be informed of the benefits of eliminating cows and will receive government compensation on any money they lose from stopping cow breeding, although because feeding cows costs so much they shouldn’t lose any money. This money will come from the money the government is already giving to help fix global warming. They will also be encouraged to sell all of their cows to butchers and use the money they receive to buy a new animal, like chickens, to raise and make a profit from. All free roaming cows will be captured and given to ranchers to monitor and sell to be butchered until all cows are gone. This plan will take time because it is simply just waiting for the cows to die off or reach an appropriate age to be slaughtered. Because the focus is only on cows the Greenhouse gas, methane, will not be eliminated, the goal is to just start reducing them so the warming of the earth is reduced. Once all cows are gone the greenhouse gas methane will be reduced.
Global warming is an issue that needs to be solved, the greenhouse gases are trapping heat and the earth is being effected negativity. Cows are producing a large amount of methane, a greenhouse gas, that is contributing to the negative effects of global warming. To reduce the greenhouse gases and help solve global warming cows should be eliminated. The Government would help ensure the process goes well and help anyone who may suffer loss because of the plan. The elimination will be a slow process because it is simply just to stop the breeding of cows. Cows will stop producing offspring and then the cows we already have will be slaughtered and used for merchandise and food. Global warming is a serious problem that does need to be solved. It is a problem that effects everyone. People need to begin to do more research on the problem to understand its effects and what they can to do help prevent it from getting worse.
The earth is warming and causing many problems that could potentially be prevented. The real problem is not the cows it is the greenhouse gases that everyone is producing. Yes, cows are producing a large amount of methane but eliminating cows altogether may not be as easy as this proposal make it out to be. The point of this paper is to get people thinking, to encourage the community to do some research on this issue and find a way that they could help. There are multiple internet sites that provide suggestions on simple steps people can take to help reduce the global impact. If only one person makes small changes it may not be enough, so the purpose of this paper is to encourage the public to make a change and help reduce global warming.
Bibliography
"Cost Of Raising Cattle : Missouri Farmer Shows That, Owing to High Price of Corn, the Profits Are Small." New York Times 27 Apr. 1902. Print.
Geographic, National. "Global Warming Fast Facts." Daily Nature and Science News and Headlines | National Geographic News. National Geographic News, 12 June 2007. Web. 20 Nov. 2011.
Harsanyi, David. "Chill out over Global Warming - The Denver Post." Colorado Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic - The Denver Post. Denver Post, 5 June 2006. Web. 22 Nov. 2011
Husted, Rick. "Consumers Say They Are Eating Beef Less Often and Cite Health Concerns." Beef USA. NCBA, July 2005. Web. 02 Feb. 2011.
Singh, Madhur. "Cows with Gas: India's Global-Warming Problem - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. Time, 11 Apr. 2009. Web. 20 Nov. 2011.
"Soy Milk." Soya. Soya. Web. 02 Dec. 2011. <http://www.soya.be/soy-milk.php>.
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