Beef, It's What's For Dinner!

Top sirloin

Simmental-Hereford cattle

McDonald's Big Mac

Almost two-thirds of the land area of the United States is agricultural land, and two-thirds of the agricultural land is grazing land; 801 million acres of grazing land for 101,208,700 head of cattle. Why are we raising all of these animals? Beef and beef by-products are an integral part of our diet and environment. There are over 80 different breeds of cattle in the United States! The beef industry provides 1.6 million jobs, making it the largest segment of the U.S. economy! In 1995, U.S. consumers spent an average of $194.50 per person for beef.

Drawing from the Florida Beef Council

Photographic film, crayons, linoleum, cake mixes, chewing gum, marshmallows, wallpaper, combs, basketballs, asphalt, airplane lubricants, insulin, and vitamin B12 all originate from the cow!

Prepare a snack using crops grown in your area. Could you make the same snack if the season were different? Why or why not? The United States annually produces nearly 25% of the world's beef supply with less than 10% of the world's cattle supply. What are the other leading beef producing countries? Locate them on a map. What are their climates like? How do climates effect agriculture? Look to encyclopedias, atlases, the Internet, or other resources for help. Beef is an excellent source of iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. Why does the human body require these elements? In what other foods can you find these elements?

What do cattle do for fun? Click on the hip bovine to find out.

It is time to begin our journey...time to follow the steer from the farm to our dinner table.