Sheep & Lamb v. Beef Cattle
The Evolving Livestock Market
Throughout the past several decades, an interesting trend has been on the rise: the preference for sheep and lamb over beef. This is not just a U.S.-growing trend, but a global one that is largely influenced by environmental sustainability concerns.
It all about the hot air?
In a study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), sheep toots emit 20% less methane per kilogram of meat produced compared to beef cattle (1). This has resulted in a significant reduction in the carbon footprint typically associated with lamb and sheep farming, making them a more sustainable choice for environmentally-conscious consumers.
Land utilization
Sheep and lamb are capable of grazing on a wider array of terrains, such as more mountainous pastures and hillier valleys that might otherwise not be as suitable for, shall we say, “beefier” livestock. Have you ever seen cattle roll themselves down the side of a mountain? The American Sheep Industry Association claims that the natural adaptive nature of sheep allows for more convenient land utilization and, consequently, more efficient meat production (2).
Trends in diet and health
More and more studies are suggesting that lamb and sheep meat have higher levels of beneficial nutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids and are more commonly a leaner cut of meat than beef (3). It is the nutritional factors of lamb and sheep that are the major contributors to driving this growing market trend. This also aligns with the increasing demand from consumers wanting cleaner and healthier dietary options.
Animal treatment and ethical practices
A rearing trend of the ethical treatment of animals has been an ever-growing concern for the past several decades, particularly in the U.S. Dietary nutrition aside for the moment, the overall welfare of animals raised for their meat is becoming even more scrutinized. The magnifying lens on the issues surrounding the ethical practices of raising animals humanely will only become larger and more transparent as consumers require the meat industry to reveal more about how their operations are being run. According to the Humane Society of the United States, consumers are increasingly favoring animal products that have been sourced from farms with high ethical standards (4).
The economics behind the trend
Concluding this blog, let’s look at some of the economic implications, which should not be overlooked. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided data stating the price of beef has seen a steady increase in the course of the past several years (5). This, coupled with the aforementioned factors, has led consumers to explore other options, including sheep and lamb. The rising popularity of beef alternatives, such as lamb and sheep, in today’s market can be attributed to a combination of environmental, health, ethical, and economic factors; which suggests that this shift towards beef alternatives may continue to grow for the foreseeable future.
Joseph Daugherty
References
Food and Agriculture Organization. (2022). "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Dairy Sector". FAO.
American Sheep Industry Association. (2023). "Land Utilization and Sheep Farming". ASIA.
Daley, C. A., Abbott, A., Doyle, P. S., Nader, G. A., & Larson, S. (2010). "A review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef". Nutrition Journal, 9(1), 10.
The Humane Society of the United States. (2023). "The State of Animal Welfare in the Meat Industry". HSUS.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2023). "Livestock Market News". USDA.
