A simplistic ‘all livestock are bad’ narrative is promoted by campaigners, celebrities, philanthropists and policymakers alike. A much more sophisticated debate is needed.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Cattle
Displaying 1 - 20 of 39 articles
African livestock keepers need help: without proactive interventions, increasing temperatures will reduce meat and milk production.
This grass may hold the key to improving milk yields from cows kept by small-scale farmers across the African continent.
Capturing cow urine could allow us to reduce the amount of damaging nitrate and nitrous oxide that ends up in the environment.
Cow burps and farts are no joke – they’re a big factor in climate change. A new study shows that daily seaweed supplements could tame this major methane source while saving ranchers money.
A thousand-year-old “mixing” event allowed African cattle - after spending thousands of years confined to certain regions - to diversify and spread.
Clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria have been bloody and protracted, with one side portrayed as victims. But as this study shows, both sides are victims.
Could the 1889-1890 pandemic have been the result of cow coronaviruses jumping to humans?
A new generation of ranchers is exploring sustainable ways to raise cattle, sheep and goats in California. Some are grazing herds on fire-prone lands, reducing wildfire risks and improving soils.
Since the feudal ages, fences have become a symbol of separation and ownership. Now, sensors and technology allow for a system of pooling resources which is not only sustainable but also productive.
To hit emissions targets, Wales will need to drastically reassess how 90% of its landscape is used.
Bison once dominated the Great Plains but were nearly wiped out by hunters in the 1800s. Now scientists are learning that bison’s presence improves plant and wildlife diversity on the prairies.
The unpopular badger cull has had only ‘modest’ success in reducing bovine TB, according to a recent report. What would an alternative approach that was effective and humane look like?
An internet-breaking 6'4" steer isn’t the only animal to reach gigantic proportions.
An Australian steer named Knickers broke the internet this week. The heavyweight Holstein-Friesian weighs as much as a small car, but genetically speaking he’s within the normal range (just).
Lung plague attacks cattle causing disease and death, and more than US$60 million in losses annually in Africa. A new vaccine could prevent the disease.
The use of antibiotics in raising livestock is complex. We could be moving towards a less-than-ideal result due to poor understanding, over-simplistic messaging and a rush for competitive advantage.
In the face of shocking footage of animals dying on ships, it seems impossible that our live export trade will remain as it is. Here are three areas to address.
Footage of sheep transport conditions have shocked many, but live export has a long history in Australia.
Technology which located Mayan cities has been used to rediscover a southern African city from the 15th century.
Top contributors
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Former Foundation Professor of Animal Welfare, University of Queensland, Curtin University
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Professor of Agriculture, CQUniversity Australia
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Euan Ritchie is a Friend of The Conversation.
Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
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Associate professor, UNSW
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Professor Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand
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Associate Professor, Food Economics, University of Guelph
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Specialist, CGIAR System Organization
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Senior lecturer, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, The University of Melbourne
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Regional Economic Development, School of Business and Law, CQUniversity Australia
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Professor, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Cattle & Sheep Production Medicine, The University of Melbourne
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Associate professor, University of Newcastle
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Adjunct Associate Professor James Cook University and University Fellow Charles Darwin University, James Cook University
