FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Who are today’s beef producers?

Today’s beef producers are mostly families.  Many of them have been raising cattle for
decades - it’s a family tradition! Cattle operations have long been handed down from generation to generation. In fact, a recent Iowa survey showed 60 percent of beef producers expect to pass their operation on to their children.
 
How does the U.S. beef industry care for and protect the environment?

America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to caring for the nation’s environmental resources. Ranchers depend on healthy natural resources for their livelihood and therefore,
place high value on stewardship of the land. Good environmental practices not only conserve
and improve natural resources, but also enhance the productivity of the land.
 
For instance, many beef cattle producers practice natural resource management activities including soil tests, brush and weed control programs, grazing management plans, minimum or conservation tillage systems and range quality and grass utilization monitoring. Beef producers also conserve and preserve our lakes, rivers and streams by ensuring proper practices in every step of the beef production process. 
 
Do cattle farmers and ranchers care about the well-being of the animals
they raise?

Yes. Cattle producers are committed to caring for their herds and producing safe, wholesome beef for consumers around the world. Cattlemen take care of their animal’s health and ensure their well-being by providing a proper diet, access to water, veterinary care and medications when they are ill.  These practices are based on research and decades of practical experience and all help enhance the well-being of the herd, individual animals and the overall productivity
of the herd. 
 
In addition, America’s beef producers have long promoted animal welfare through programs
such as the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, which provides guidance on the essential elements for cattle care. BQA addresses issues like providing necessary food and water, following disease prevention practices, providing safe and humane facilities for cattle and minimizing stress when transporting cattle.
 
Is the beef cattle industry important to the economic health
of the country?

The beef industry significantly contributes to the U.S. economy. There are about 800,000 beef producers in the United States, who are responsible for nearly 100 million head of beef cattle. These animals will generate about $80 billion in beef sales in the retail meat case.
 
According to USDA, producers of meat animals in 2005 were responsible for more than $64 billion in added value to the U.S. economy, as measured by their contribution to the national output.
 
Consumer demand and interest in food choices is constantly changing.  How do beef producers respond to those changing desires?

Cattlemen’s commitment to consumers has resulted in a variety of beef choices allowing Americans to grow their love affair with beef.  Today, consumers can choose grain-fed beef or grass-finished beef; specific branded programs that raise cattle without growth promotants or beef that meets the guidelines of “certified organic.” 
 
Is beef good for me?

Yes!  Beef is good for you and tastes good too. Consumers want healthy, nutritious, safe food, and beef provides all three. There are 29 different cuts of beef (including 15 of the 20 of the most popular cuts) that meet government guidelines for lean, such as tenderloin, sirloin and 95 percent lean ground beef. Beef is also a naturally nutrient rich food. Just one 3-ounce serving of lean beef contributes less than 10 percent of calories to a 2,000-calorie diet, yet it supplies more than 10 percent of the Daily Value for nine essential nutrients. And all beef goes through a rigorous inspection process using government regulations to ensure that U.S. beef remains the safest in the world.