Artanthos t1_j0hdvrl wrote
Returning the land to nature would include returning the original inhabitants.
In North America that would mean replacing cattle with million strong herds of bison.
Ruminants converting grass into meat and methane does not change.
ShaunWhiteIsMyTwin t1_j0hs09p wrote
Bison are a keystone sources that have rebound effects beyond eating grass and farting. https://theconversation.com/bison-are-back-and-that-benefits-many-other-species-on-the-great-plains-107588
Artanthos t1_j0iju68 wrote
I don't disagree.
But it's not as simple an equation as return everything to what it was and get rid of the cattle. Look, cattle are no longer producing methane.
You have to account for what was there before, which included large herds of bison.
To demonstrate the true reduction, you have to account for what takes the cattle's place.
jeffreynya t1_j0hrrl4 wrote
would love to see lots more bison running around.
Artanthos t1_j0n7jnd wrote
Bison ranches are gaining in popularity.
Full_Temperature_920 t1_j0hmwzl wrote
Unless you have stats and studies to show that the amount of methane bison produce would be on par with the amounts currently produced by the meat industry, shut the fuck up with your meaningless conjecture
Artanthos t1_j0hnfx2 wrote
Do you have studies accounting for the reintroduction of bison that show a reduction in methane from the proposed changes .
After all, the people advocating for how green cellular meat is are the ones pushing for change. It is incumbent on them to do comprehensive studies.
The_Mann_In_Black t1_j0ibdgs wrote
It is tough to study a wide ranging and dangerous animal such as bison. However, studies done on buffalo relative to cattle showed that on a similar diet they produced similar amounts of methane.
The two key differences between current production cattle and bison comes down to grazing and density differences. Nature does not naturally support the cattle density we have due to feedlots. Bison when grazing don’t chew grasses down as low as cattle, which is better for grassland ecosystems and bison roam further allowing land to rest.
If we replaced all cattle production with cellular ag and repopulated bison it would be better for ecosystems and methane emissions.
The reality is that ability to actually do this is decades upon decades away and will be very costly.
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