Chapter 1. The Cost of Corn-Fed Beef

Introduction

Video Case Study

In this activity you will watch a short video on beef production (3:29), produced by the Wall Street Journal digital network. In this news report, journalist Matt Rivera visits two ranches in eastern Pennsylvania to learn more about their distinct approaches to raising beef cattle.

In the questions that follow, you will be asked to analyze the content and presentation of the video in relation to the learning competency of Environmental Literacy, as you learned about in Chapter # of your textbook. In addition, you will be asked to connect the video content to portions of Chapter 18 (pp. 321-323) and Chapter 5 (pp. 82-85), so be sure to have your textbook with you while completing this activity.

1.1 Analyzing The Video

Instructions

Watch the video and answer the following questions:

Question 1.1

The video touched on a number of benefits and drawbacks for both conventional (corn-fed) beef production and grass-fed beef production. For each of the listed benefit/drawbacks below, use the dropdown menu to indicate whether the statement best applies to “conventional” or “grass-fed” beef production

Benefit/Drawback Conventional or Grass Fed?
Can alter feed recipes easily to use cheaper inputs Zr3LXsgLsTvrzsAmsP20PK2CFmYMHrbnHJ0qIw==
Requires a lot of land for grazing 1TBVD4XqQhI/EkAQ2W6yxKGgj1Ej/4+VyOYXFw==
Requires petroleum fertilizer to grow feed Zr3LXsgLsTvrzsAmsP20PK2CFmYMHrbnHJ0qIw==
Can raise more cattle on a single ranch Zr3LXsgLsTvrzsAmsP20PK2CFmYMHrbnHJ0qIw==
Cattle fatten quickly and reach market weight faste Zr3LXsgLsTvrzsAmsP20PK2CFmYMHrbnHJ0qIw==
Produces beef with richer vitamin content 1TBVD4XqQhI/EkAQ2W6yxKGgj1Ej/4+VyOYXFw==
Produces beef with higher omega-3 fatty acid content 1TBVD4XqQhI/EkAQ2W6yxKGgj1Ej/4+VyOYXFw==
Produces beef with higher saturated fat content Zr3LXsgLsTvrzsAmsP20PK2CFmYMHrbnHJ0qIw==
Is considered a less efficient way of raising beef cattle 1TBVD4XqQhI/EkAQ2W6yxKGgj1Ej/4+VyOYXFw==
Must charge consumers more to make a profit 1TBVD4XqQhI/EkAQ2W6yxKGgj1Ej/4+VyOYXFw==
Cattle produce the fertilizer that helps grow their food 1TBVD4XqQhI/EkAQ2W6yxKGgj1Ej/4+VyOYXFw==
Produces a more familiar taste for consumers Zr3LXsgLsTvrzsAmsP20PK2CFmYMHrbnHJ0qIw==
The main input costs are connected to harvesting hay LC3axNz6uEAYo3X9Q7cDQ+UBKxvjBmGfwngztO9Y9Qefqw1T7ardT793SOw=
Rising fuel costs push slim profit margins to near zero 1TBVD4XqQhI/EkAQ2W6yxKGgj1Ej/4+VyOYXFw==
Cattle eat things that are not part of their natural diet Zr3LXsgLsTvrzsAmsP20PK2CFmYMHrbnHJ0qIw==
Correct.
Incorrect.
Try again.
2

Question 1.2

Based on the information presented in the video, what would you say is the main benefit and the main drawback of conventional beef production?

Benefit: gPBnqS9YyNljER5zLYGOrUaF0+0FOWnWA/3pxgz30f3PatHMSc+VnMfJ4yxKG94m

Drawback: gPBnqS9YyNljER5zLYGOrUaF0+0FOWnWA/3pxgz30f3PatHMSc+VnMfJ4yxKG94m

Answer submitted.

Question 1.3

Based on the information presented in the video, what would you say is the main benefit and the main drawback of grass-fed beef production?

Benefit: gPBnqS9YyNljER5zLYGOrUaF0+0FOWnWA/3pxgz30f3PatHMSc+VnMfJ4yxKG94m

Drawback: gPBnqS9YyNljER5zLYGOrUaF0+0FOWnWA/3pxgz30f3PatHMSc+VnMfJ4yxKG94m

Answer submitted.

Question 1.4

s3NcXrgH4bGi8ZOVyK7luDn2OXr2xQNVI2ffKe3ZZ4Pp1IMyspSAlFAWMx/8ylhIYoRR3DApQSqFr9UdTTpLa2zwBUX2TFfiwCAO1Yrmg9M35qL9rbAaZzQGsA/x6wY2yYZ6GYYUrYPMNxti+CbNzWB/rLpXAOF5XqZBys05NRLYrBLJ3Dt6o4mxI1tt+cjvMgxQharip+au3t70
Wouldn't it be nice to have some essay feedback here? Or not?

1.2 Analyzing The Video (Part 2)

Question 1.5

On page 4 of your textbook you will find an explanation and a definition for the concept of the triple bottom line. Drawing on this information, re-examine the list of benefits and drawbacks provided below and for each one place a checkmark where the benefit or drawback is based on environmental (env), social (soc) or economic (econ) factors. (Note: you may check more than one answer where appropriate):

Benefit/Drawback Env Soc Econ
Can alter feed recipes easily to use cheaper inputs wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
Requires a lot of land for grazing bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
Requires petroleum fertilizer to grow feed bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
Can raise more cattle on a single ranch wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
Cattle fatten quickly and reach market weight faster wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
Produces beef with richer vitamin content wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+
Produces beef with higher omega-3 fatty acid content wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+
Produces beef with higher saturated fat content wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+
Is considered a less efficient way of raising beef cattle wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
Must charge consumers more to make a profit wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
Cattle produce the fertilizer that helps grow their food bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
Produces a more familiar taste for consumers wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+
The main input costs are connected to harvesting hay wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
Rising fuel costs push slim profit margins to near zero wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
Correct.
Incorrect.
Try again.
2

Question 1.6

Add up your responses from Question 5 and give your final tally for each component of the triple bottom line below:

Environmental Factors: VFZrfi3LeHDL59SPhx7ge0DxGGu5/hmMbGzWOw==

Social Factors: VFZrfi3LeHDL59SPhx7ge0DxGGu5/hmMbGzWOw==

Economic Factors: VFZrfi3LeHDL59SPhx7ge0DxGGu5/hmMbGzWOw==

Answer submitted.

Question 1.7

sPpi6PKwk2GVQGtrdlrmlSBNgHzJMgF7Nn0GT2DogZLOMjIEC0+cQBOrcKBJvloSqP0361u/IRSwSfI7WpSX4VCwUXa0b32kOEPIOPoe4H2fCHP10rivCkiuz919tyVJGcU12NaV/krDl8LGPECwOlZhlDLcYNTHh1n8TKGe7WHZg9PrXWzBEwQg7vMAxLD8oVRAqvph6EPG+4XRi9VQoQSdmaqJHLxdxRpYvPPgT+3EuToWeZAw8ji735NZhjNAdwXmcPR87UmgmQmT6cDDEs2cOWiXVDEjABc5J/MYyMnE6ChqSqqObKKQ6yXsuDtKiZNF9IJX4D8=
Correct. Economic factors were discussed more than the other two components of the triple bottom line in this video.
Incorrect. Economic factors were discussed more than the other two components of the triple bottom line in this video.
2
Try again.

Question 1.8

ky4J9qXoeIIN1EcxRVwAAJJARGCnfDL7+p89RiGysh76JDuPNp3CigS4FvPdJ4MU9DJ06upM6wfY0HXbnIPF3DIsPrLjfcSFnYX+3Sg9HH6BX7TqG02VquZgbxzLPI+TkqRcBpUGY/8SftrMNx8ou0k9xQnvxjsBr7SG0Y0Z+XLEs8+kEv0NM4imDb4=
Wouldn't it be nice to have some essay feedback here? Or not?

1.3 Taking a Second Look at Beef Production

Instructions

For this part of the assignment please read Chapter 18, pages 321-323 of your textbook (“Some Industrial Agricultural Practices Have Significant Drawbacks”). After doing so, watch the video a second time and answer the following questions:

Question 1.9

qWkjD3hA0b042pSLIb+rQ2dZyL+bht2WMyTDupPclzspNywUY++2u03J2/QW7ATNhW7KEvXBKEQviAjmGd3UeBWxiRy4RUcHnX+grueyIExlfBc0g2x0t6hwJCmelplJRonxBLeQbFb/lLQPWA5OTBNjfLdqgpjGm2uO6KEMPWlH6Cg/XB6gn+dIwf9W/2Xpi8yVnHDSMR1g25zLPLBxa4hVN9otCgHRfmCNmG9M0jOGsLJHw2VyIzKmESa5ggEsT5RUFWl1dx/PrFluXDv40VmE4qJ/jgG+nvGuHGfuz15z8Zt2klTKRb4j6vM36jahTfvOfB6bzeHGujeXpWtJqj4OAihGy0RiJ74nDuwEmfzdPmjrLtt8eR4h/TpaYNKV1pycy5QQkuaCM2PX+rBp9EuZ+TUEAm20IRCSu6bUDrd9nsjWaXS14uiLTqB/3VxStu/Lhw==
Correct.
Incorrect.
2
Try again.

Question 1.10

According to your textbook, using CAFOs to produce beef has a number of disadvantages. Examine the list below and check all of the disadvantages mentioned by your textbook:

Disadvantages?
CAFOs contribute significantly to global warming bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
The grain-intensive diets fed to CAFO cattle are bad for their health nbIRnRe8R9/OaJB+
Subjecting CAFO cattle to such crowded living conditions is inhumane nbIRnRe8R9/OaJB+
Health problems for CAFO cattle lead farmers to administer heavy doses of antibiotics, which can result in antibiotic resistance for both animals and humans nbIRnRe8R9/OaJB+
Compared to CAFO pigs and CAFO chickens, CAFO beef cattle use considerably more feed and water to produce a pound of meat or dairy product nbIRnRe8R9/OaJB+
The grains used to feed CAFO cattle could be more efficiently used to feed human populations because cattle are inefficient at turning feed into milk and beef nbIRnRe8R9/OaJB+
Correct.
Incorrect.
2
Try again.

1.4 Taking a Second Look at Beef Production (Part 2)

Question 1.11

FzWi40q9rD6owuUHLiMFxIwbpuz5YP3ujI1LMIRbCIowPQgXkugjpy5ojYzibKcQ6K/NsyWDMZ8iUEUpcuXWtE3B2xw9sAfDEhJEeGhcWQ5fFpR1i2FG5gp52KFyLsGR7lJG361Ih3M+HNPaMDEprpVH7k6MKH9q4Wrz1eB+cBVGiSv/lzz74k1mFKEXiC0/c+CzuacdhGtuxDA1P/tSZV7oJz7XVzPRNko4g//K+C+ltiy4K8GDXwekiwkvS7pT9tFLVAd7xhnAIkFvcCIka2FO5DmDylWLl00PM3SyYGU=
Correct.
Incorrect.
2
Try again.

Question 1.12

KXAu2s8jsWYUTItJhoqZr0gC2F5RSE2H4xXqPRVLOHfFUtFO2m68B7gps4z0Dz/oe3mhQ8Jtt3TpUg/x78dB3TqmnCXy3gwI7dmEECmSMFJy0li6uPwMD9XbVBzbnWKtzrxVNRkePAmSIIcTf/JXIkRBdGR+5jsWAvmlsQb9lyFO7QzHZZj/T5FwFdSOrZTEY9C2iovYOLarqAUiGDtBYlmAklVnhLJ/ew9ZGh68eWS7MGMq3VzKh6BbabQ=
2
Correct.
Try again.
Incorrect.

Question 1.13

/gYr4dpf19CI41YeUIvkBs+IGrDXH55uS1o8kIeaXY9mN+EFRJdH2WuFGDcKeGDIgyM/7USA9bu09qrPPSqdXAIjDdkR1etD+uKpuvU3DDLRkrBx2ozWM1d+NoruGtM3YUJU0pTe2NJHRsPJ+zTjimbXNJ+CZUzJgD6/HEhrCyN+JR+ZshbQRaY3upCCKaUVGge5bxSkJsa74XucyX+WgUuxKMk3NNMryy1Mq/9GuyQrnD2zMWhj1sJHX11glTUKkRauzJmPllVHq1IsyGj8mx1q9mcvw0L1qCFISnIDZFmUUsa/ZrRTgr+wCBYHT2qNUNWCNA==
Wouldn't it be nice to have some essay feedback here? Or not?

1.5 Assessing the Costs of Producing Beef

Instructions

For this part of the assignment please read Chapter 5, pages 82-83 of your textbook (“Mainstream Economics Supports Some Actions That Are Not Sustainable”), focusing on the discussion of internal costs, external costs and true costs. After doing so, watch the video a third time if necessary and answer the following questions:

Question 1.14

The statements below highlight a number of environmental and social problems associated with conventional beef production, which you read about in Chapter 18. As Chapter 5 explains, such problems generate additional costs that are not always factored into the price of beef. For each statement below, select whether we are dealing with an internal cost or an external cost in relation to conventional beef production:

Additional Costs of Conventional Beef Production Internal or External?
Costs associated with the damages and disruptions caused by industrial agriculture’s numerous contributions to global warming GHOcB8hlke9271yc3IEQkMPc70Yos/Tq
Costs associated with water depletion and soil erosion caused by the monocrop agricultural practices used to grow feed for CAFO cattle GHOcB8hlke9271yc3IEQkMPc70Yos/Tq
Costs associated with addressing health problems in cattle caused by high grain diets and confinement GHOcB8hlke9271yc3IEQkMPc70Yos/Tq
Costs associated with addressing health problems in humans caused by antibiotic resistant microbes and diets rich in fatty beef GHOcB8hlke9271yc3IEQkMPc70Yos/Tq
Costs associated with safely containing the high volumes of animal manure produced by CAFOs GHOcB8hlke9271yc3IEQkMPc70Yos/Tq
Correct. All of these costs of CAFOs are external costs.
Incorrect. All of these costs of CAFOs are external costs.
Try again.
2

Question 1.15

Add up your responses from Question 1 and give your final tally for each type of cost below.

Internal Costs? e/aeFHinxdJdMX0oXKfsDzr5Z+WUJMz8

External Costs? wXTelXhY65ZftfuotK4fKNbdXf7S7uzC1qqSfQ==

2
Correct.
Try again.
Incorrect.

Question 1.16

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Question 1.17

++Bbj6Ahm0CDE2ipCii7REfQWplb+JZ1JwiMoEbISqxa4LTzXPxZlmt1f2ogy5jdL5+/NtLk5PpdWlG/uXpZFJul+YW0mdB1pkNt8ic18tgnoaCjaTWCCODESR9t+BfxowkrDsLzR15Z3hc7p/01SO2N37fO/GnyBoS6f5DpWp6SZU8rpt1KC3u1o+5MPd9q1ZxrlkHLSyZd0KGB+ktFOQIboa2H51JMLmhZwIwZXH4v1WCaMtTlfwGTXwp05sVf
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Activity Report

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