Here’s an interesting New York Times Magazine article on the life of a steer in today’s beef industry.
What’s interesting about it is that it is neither an apology for the industry, nor is it a heartstring-pulling gut-wrenching Jungle-style animal rights expose. Instead, it looks at the economics — both obvious and subtle — of America’s passion for cheap meat, and, unsentimentally but not without some emotion, how that impacts Steer No. 534.
Am I off beef, now that I’ve read it? No. And, really, we don’t eat a huge amount of it at home (more chicken, and even just pasta or salad). But we do eat it, and will continue to.
But I am aware that, over the coming decade, we’ll see a change in its availability, its nature, and, most significantly, its cost, as both the society ethics and the economies of the present industry force beef into a less predominant role in our diet. That’s almost certainly a good thing.
But I’ll still enjoy a steak whenever I can.
(Via Rooba)