From intro: The Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness at Duke University conducted this analysis on behalf of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to examine the beef and dairy industries in the United States. Cattle raising contributes significantly to global greenhouse emissions. Although estimates are rough at best, the global livestock sector including cattle production is thought to be responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions from anthropogenic sources. Some researchers have even suggested that, if deforestation for feed crops is included, livestock's share of these emissions may be even higher than the share from transport sources (Steinfeld et al., 2006). Other environmental consequences, including crop displacement, water pollution, and pressure on water supplies, are direct effects of cattle raising or indirect effects of feed production that supports those cattle.
