Principles that are outlined by each species group individually. To learn more about the various programs and principles for each species, visit www.animalagalliance.org/educate. Here you can find more specific information, facts and talking points regarding the welfare of the livestock you raise and the standards producers are being asked to meet. Harvesting animals Because production agriculture results in food products, those who are involved – and especially those who show market animals – may find themselves helping people understand their food source. The focus on safe and humane actions involved in harvesting animals has been an area of concern for many, including the government and producers themselves. Hardwick points out that the fact remains that people raise animals to feed people. “Ruminants have an incredible ability to take grass and forage, digest it and turn it into a product that is a human consumable protein,” he says. “There is a small percentage of this earth that has farmable land that we can use to grow food, but what we can do is let these animals graze on that untillable land and let them turn that grass into beef.” The Meat Inspection Act of 1906 requires animals to be inspected before and after slaughter and ensures that slaughter is done under sanitary conditions. The act helped address questions the public had about the safety of their meat, but questions about the humane treatment were addressed in the 1958 Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA). Amongst many of the guidelines set forth in this act for packinghouses to follow was the requirement of all animals to be stunned prior to slaughter-thus making them unconscious and unable to feel pain. “As food producers, young people must realize that it is their respon-
sibility to produce safe, wholesome products. This is called ‘quality assurance.’ Quality assurance should be important to all youth livestock producers and they should realize that it is their responsibility to produce safe, wholesome products and that the animal husbandry decisions they make affect the quality of the food they produce,” Gunn notes.
Nutritional value of meat Due to many misconceptions too numerous to list, many people are forgoing meat as their primary protein source and looking for alternative options.
According to the 11th Annual Food and Health Survey, the Top 3 sources of information on proCarbon footprint tein are scientific studies, media headlines or article, and family or Often, animals get a bad rep for friends, which means we can have the “excess waste” they produce, but a powerful effect on our family and in reality, livestock are extremely ef- friends regarding their views about ficient at converting food and water meat. into a protein source for consumers. Animalsmart.org points out that “It’s important that we talk to the manure that is often referred to people about why it is important to as waste is a valuable fertilizer. For eat beef, this is our product and the a plant or crop to grow, nutrients consumption of it is what keeps us must be removed from the soil dur- in the business,” Hardwick emphaing that growth, and while commer- sizes. cial fertilizers can be used to replace those nutrients, so can animal maWith recommendations to connure the website details. So long as sume 2 to 3 servings of protein a day, the waste is properly managed, and meat seems like the logical choice in excess isn’t applied (which can lead fulfilling this requirement, and for to a build-up in the soil) then it is a good reasons. Ten essential nutrivery valuable way of providing nu- ents are packed in to a single 3-ounce trients to soil. serving of lean beef in roughly 150 calories – these nutrients include “Through technology and better iron, zinc and B vitamins that are genetics, beef cows are able to use critical for development and optiless land and water than they have mal health throughout life. in the past. In addition, the feed that is being fed is also being grown “Consumers are getting tired of with less water and land,” Hardwick hearing about new diet fads or what points out, “Everyone has to eat and foods are suddenly bad or good for to use land and water to grow that them and all diets go out of style food is a noble cause in my books eventually. The only diet that has not and a great way to use our natural is the suggestion to have a well balresources.” anced diet and that includes meat and dairy products,” Hardwick says. Most producers recognize their responsibility as a steward of While many more topics appear the land and practice conservation in the media or are asked in casual and preservation techniques that conversation, the overall take away will help improve the land and for- is that exhibitors should educate age available to animals. In addition, themselves with facts and only disfarmers and ranchers are learning to cuss topics at depths they are comuse less while producing more and fortable discussing. If you don’t through Integrated Pest Manage- know the answer to a question you ment, they are able to use less pesti- are asked, you can always say, “I cides and herbicides as well. don’t know but I will find out for you from someone who does.” And follow up!
118 November/December 2016 • theshowcircuit.com