Carbon pawprint of our dogs’ food

[Oberon]

It is an emotive topic for sure. I think we are all for improvements in animal welfare in the farming sector. No doubt we can agree on that! We can always do better...

When this issue arises I always think about the huge swathes of land that have been cleared for plant based agriculture, usually monocultures. That is a cost that’s part of any diet containing plants. Animal production can require less land clearing (at least it is like that in Australia) and the land can still support other species. That’s often not the case with large scale plant farming, which also needs fertilisers, irrigation and can result in erosion. Anyway, just something that should be factored in.

That said, we have cut down our meat consumption a lot and at least half of our meals are vegetarian. I wouldn’t find it hard to become totally vegetarian (the kind that still eats milk, cheese and eggs though!!). We produce all our own eggs. Don’t have room for a dairy cow unfortunately ?

 

[Boogie]

I’m veggie three days a week because my brother is veggie and lives with us three days a week.

Most of my family are veggie and, when we go away together, I’m more than happy to eat and cook veggie.

I eat meat. I make sure the animal has been reared kindly and killed humanely but I can ever imagine doing without my bacon butties.

My son became a veggie aged 16 but I think the idea came to him as young as four, long before he knew it was a thing. When he found out ‘chicken’ had been an animal he was utterly appalled and never got over it. He wanted to become vegan at 16 but I said ‘not in my house’ - its too expensive! He moved out aged 21 and never did become vegan, but lots of his friends are vegan and one of them is buying a building in central Heidelberg (where my son now lives) to open a vegan restaurant - an exciting adventure!

No, we are not an e ho chamber here. For example, I am very and vehemently anti gun. Many friends here are into shooting and gun doggery. I see no need to argue about it. We have different opinions, end of story.

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[Beanwood]

No, I wouldn’t say we’re bad humans. I really do believe dogs need to eat more meat. Gulp. Saying that is hard when I’m a vegetarian. But any animal (incl humans) that eats a lot of meat has a massive carbon footprint.

I haven't listened to the podcast because I would rather read a transcript.

But I think I am picking up the gist of the topic around carbon footprints and the sheer amount of meat we consume. In my grandmothers day meat and the animal it came from was treated with respect the whole way through. Meat was not eaten every day, maybe twice a week.

Our family were farmers, and in some respects we still are, living on a working farm and involved in poultry, lamb, cattle and pigs. Yes, they are taken by us to an abbatoir. We travel a bit further though through our choice because we know the abbatoir is kinder and more humane. We cry over every lamb, pig and chicken we slaughter. We live and breathe livestock here on the farm, every day. I don't know when I last ate an egg from a supermarket.

So we don't have a massive carbon footprint, I don't think we are alone in this either, we live in a similar fashion to a lot of people I know, making very careful choices around the meat we consume, and demanding more information around traceability of produce. All the produce from our local village is just that..local. Even the local motorway service station is renowned for it low carbon footprint, as well as providing seasonal produce.

The vast population though is ignorant, and that saddens me. But on here @MF I honestly think you are preaching to the converted.

 

[HAH]

The vast population though is ignorant, and that saddens me

I agree with this entirely, and this - in my view - is what fuels polarised views which lead to division that can be easily exploited (don't mention current UK politics ). We need greater understanding and engagement and - again, simply in my view - this is where listening to people, but also constructively challenging views and asking for evidence are massively important. I've found these approaches on this forum and long may it last

 

[Boogie]

I agree with this entirely, and this - in my view - is what fuels polarised views which lead to division that can be easily exploited (don't mention current UK politics ). We need greater understanding and engagement and - again, simply in my view - this is where listening to people, but also constructively challenging views and asking for evidence are massively important. I've found these approaches on this forum and long may it last

I couldn’t agree more. These subjects are sometimes treated like religions and their evangelists are just as hard to chat to as religious fanatics.

My brother always says ‘I’m a vegetarian but I’m not religious about it’. He isn’t either, he has never tried to convert anyone.



Amen to you @HAH about this forum too.

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[HAH]

That is insightful @Boogie - and neatly ties in with this article I've been snaffling out for my own interests: Why is it so hard to persuade people with facts?
In short, this describes research that found where new or different information challenges someone's sense of identity, it often triggers a negative emotional response - putting up a barrier to taking on new information. One way round this is to present other information first that is less challenging to identities, building a case more subtly so people can reach their own conclusions. easier said than done - if you have the energy in the first place!
Back to the day job...

 

[snowbunny]

Back to the day job...

Before you do...
You're not going to believe what I'm about to tell you - The Oatmeal

 

[HAH]

That is a fine piece of work and no mistake! I love it. Thanks for sharing @snowbunny

 

[Boogie]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this argument becomes completely redundant and mycoprotein becomes the way forward in the next generation.

Mycoprotein.

 

[Oberon]

I would be more than happy to eat artificial ‘meat’. I also think it’ll be the way of the future.

 

[Beanwood]

We eat a lot of Quorn here. In fact, when I made a chilli made from Quorn and served it to MIL et al, no one believed it when I told them. Mind you though, it was my cooking and rather spicy!