Agriculture and Environment: Beef

Environmental Impacts of Production: Water Use & Quality

Dr. Jim Oltjen of the University of California at Davis and Dr. Jon Beckett, formerly of UC-Davis, found that, including direct consumption, irrigation of pastures, and crops and carcass processing, it can take as much as 3,682 litres of water to produce one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of boneless beef in the United States.

Given impending water shortages in many parts of the world, the price of water is likely to increase. This will either result in more expensive meat or, more likely, encourage more efficient use of water.

In addition to total water use, there is increasing concern about water pollution, especially the harmful effects on surface water and groundwater quality of pesticides used to maintain or improve pasture areas or to increase feed grain production.

In addition to contaminating waterways, groundwater, and even marine environments, those who use pesticides and live in rural areas tend to contaminate not only the water supplies of their own livestock operations and those of their neighbours, but also their own water supplies.

Many people living on farms in the United States cannot safely drink their own well water.