RUNNING HEAD: Cattle Farmers of America
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Cattle Farmers of America – I Say
A Study on the Work and Lifestyle of an American Cattle Farmer
Jonathan Keffer
The Pennsylvania State University
RUNNING HEAD: Cattle Farmers of America
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In today’s day and age, it is easy for most Americans to go to the local grocery story and
purchase a pound of ground beef to make hamburgers for the family. Does anyone ever stop to think
the roots of where this beef came from? This beef we use almost every day is made possible by the
cattle farmers of America. Since most Americans consume beef on a regular basis, the cattle farming
industry should be a booming industry. However, it is far from the flourishing we would assume. In this
paper, I will be examining why the cattle farming industry is not receiving the support it needs to
maintain its status as the backbone of the American agricultural economy. For primary research on this
matter, I have interviewed two farmers in southwestern Pennsylvania and used my own personal
knowledge as a cattle farmer myself. My knowledge will be used mainly for factual evidence and
explanation. Secondary research includes examination of American farmers as a whole, government
agencies that handle agricultural affairs, and animal activist groups that are against raising and
processing cattle and other farm animals for food production. In this paper, I will be voicing my own
opinions and arguments for and or against these claims and accusations.
First, I will be examining the claims and opinions voiced by the cattle farmers of America, and
specifically cattle farmers of southwestern Pennsylvania. A concern voiced by the “Animal Frontiers”
website is that the cattle-herd statistics have decreased over the last 12 years (“The future of beef
production in North America”). In interviewing local farmers Jeffery Keffer and Jeff Flemming, both
stated that their cattle herds have decreased over the years as a result of increased expenses to raise
and maintain cattle but revenue from the cattle decreasing due to the economic recession. I have
personally witnessed the decrease in cattle herds. Over the past ten years, our family’s cattle farm has
decreased from an average of 50 cattle to only approximately 30 cattle before calves are born. This
decrease in our herd is due to the economic recession and inflation on goods used to maintain the
cattle, especially through the harsh Pennsylvania winters. Because of the recession, the average revenue
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from the local cattle auctions have decreased steadily over the years. Because of these two coinciding
factors, it is not wise business to maintain a large herd at this time.
Government officials have made their claims on the situation concerning cattle farmers. These
organizations and agencies weighing in include the Environmental Protection Agency, and the United
States Department of Agricultural. The EPA also shows similar statistics about the decline in the beef
industry. With these declines, they show counterintuitively that the beef cattle produced for
consumption has remained steady with 11.3 million heads (2012) compared to 11.8 million heads
(2001), and 11.9 million heads (1992). More importantly, the EPA estimates that the beef industry
provides over one million jobs to the American economy (“Background of Beef Production in U.S.”). I can
vouch for these statistics given by the EPA. Southwestern Pennsylvania is most historically famous for its
steel mills in the Pittsburgh area. However, in the rural areas many of the older population was raised to
become farmers of some degree. The standing problem here then is that the farmers are becoming
aged. Cattle farming is a strenuous career that demands long hours of manual labor throughout the
year. Much like a police officer or doctor, there are no holiday when the livelihood of your herd is at
stake. The majority of the rust belts’ younger population is moving away looking for jobs to fit their
college degrees and find a more fitting climate that suits them. This is causing impact to the cattle
industry because we are losing more farmers than we are gaining. We cannot blame the younger
population for their moves because of the previous statistics. It just isn’t wise to go into the suffering
cattle industry where you cannot make enough salary to support yourself and a family. I for example
only work part time for my father and brother on our family farm. Although I would like to make a living
off of our family’s farm, my father even has told me not to because the farming industry is a dying
breed. As I stated already, you just cannot make a living to support a family in this economy as a cattle
farmer today unless you already have strong roots in the industry.
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Why is our demand for cattle being met then if our farms are decreasing? Or better yet, how
haven’t the prices for beef sky-rocketed because of the decrease in farms? The United States
Department of Agriculture answers these questions in their “World Market and Trade Report.” The
USDA predicts an increase in exports of beef cattle by two percent in India and Brazil. Whereas the
United States is predicted to decrease two percent in national production because of the tight supplies
and high prices due to the economy (“Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade”). This is why our
demand in the U.S. is being met. We are being supplied by international exports which will only continue
to hurt our economy because of job loss and inflation from export pricing. Even though the global
demand for beef is on the rise, the United States in global exports is also predicted to decline by three
percent (“Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade”). This will only add more weight to the back
of the economy. This is why we need support for the cattle industry. Bringing financial stability to the
beef industry will allow for people to obtain a career as a cattle farmers. Increase in the farmers will
increase our national herd statistics, which in turn will increase our beef production. Increase in beef
production will bring some stability to our national economy and will satisfy our national demand for
beef. In long terms, a steady increase in beef production would soon move forward from national
satisfaction and allow us to compete with India and Brazil in the world market.
One of farmers’ biggest obstacles in receiving support and aid from the government and general
population is animal activist groups that are against the production of beef for human consumption.
One of the biggest voices in this community is the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Better
known as PETA, this group is sometimes viewed as an “extremist” group in the eyes of the general
population. PETA makes some radical claims on their website about the process of raising beef cattle.
They describe the raising of cattle as cruel and inhumane. First they claim that all cattle are painfully
branded by farmers. I can say that branding is an outdated method for marking one’s cattle (“Cows Used
for Food”). If branding is used, it is used in the Midwestern regions because large ranches are run there
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and it is a safer method to keep track of their cattle. The most common method for marking cattle in
southwestern Pennsylvania is tagging the cattle’s ears. These tags are marked with a number and
possibly other information in case the cattle escape from the property. This process as described by
Pennsylvania farmer Jeff Flemming is “no different from a teenage girl getting her ear pierced.” This is
because the ear is made of primarily cartilage much like a human’s so there are few, if any, nerve cells
located in the ear. The next method that PETA attacks with very descriptive terms is the process of
castration. Quoting their website directly, PETA describes that bull castration involves the bull’s testicles
being “ripped out of their scrotum” (“Cows Used for Food”). In Pennsylvania, the most common form of
castration is using a device similar to a rubber band. This rubber band is stretched using a form of pliers
and is then the band is placed above the bull’s testicles. This forms a tourniquet and cuts off the blood
supply. In about a day, the testicles will fall off from necrosis without any further damage to the bull as a
result of the cow’s body clotting off where the band is placed. PETA’s description intrigued me though so
I did some further research on the internet and with farmers from the local area. What I found they
were describing was nothing more than neutering of the bull. It is the same process as is done with cats
and dogs. A veterinarian specialized in large breed animals will apply anesthetics to the bull and
surgically remove the testicles. The statement that they are “ripped out” is false and a barbaric idea that
could threaten the life of the bull. The last claim I viewed from PETA was that the cattle are sent to
feedlots to be fattened and then sent hundreds of miles to slaughterhouses. PETA claims that many of
the cattle die in transit to the location (“Cows Used for Food”). Looking past the arguments of whether
cattle farming is cruel and inhumane, having your cattle die in transit is just bad business. The cattle
must remain alive until the reach the slaughterhouse or else the meat will become unusable because of
the body beginning to break down after death.
I stand by my statement that we must support our cattle farmers across the country with all
forms of support including financial. This is necessary not only to stabilize the industry, but to begin
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balancing the national economy as a whole because of the revenue nationally and internationally
brought in by the industry. Although PETA and other organizations are against the idea of raising cattle
for human consumption, it is in our best interest to do so. Furthermore, their claims on the “cruelty” of
the cattle are falsified to a degree or are just completely untrue. When we look firsthand how the cattle
are treated, we see farmers treat them as we would our pets. They are precious to us in a way because
we make our livelihood off of them. Without cattle farmers, our country’s situation could be much direr.
Just remember how much work and dedication goes into that burger you eat on Memorial Day. It comes
from the backbreaking sweat of America’s cattle farmers.
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References
"Background of Beef Production in U.S." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
"Cows Used for Food." PETA. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
"Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade." USDA: Foreign Agricultural Service. USDA. Web. 30
Oct. 2014.
"The Future of Beef Production in North America." Animal Frontiers. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.