In the beef lifecycle, cattle spend the first half to two thirds of their lives on small ranches and farms (cow-calf and stocker/backgrounder operations). When poorly managed, these grazing operations can cause extensive pollution, land degradation and species endangerment, and generate considerable climate-disrupting emissions. The good news is that well-managed rangelands (grazed natural ecosystems, mostly in the western U.S.) and pastures (farmland planted with grasses to graze livestock, mostly in the eastern U.S.) provide valuable ecosystem services to society.

By purchasing "sustainable" beef, buyers can avoid contributing to consequences of poor management, and can support benefits provided by well-managed operations, on a massive extent of American lands. U.S. livestock (mostly beef cattle) graze over 780 million acres — an area six times the size of Texas.

To maximize benefits, first identify key impacts, which vary by region and operation type — e.g., between western rangelands and irrigated and eastern pastures. Next, develop purchasing guidelines comprehensive enough to recognize sources that achieve as many positive outcomes as possible. Make sure there are no critical gaps that could land your brand in hot water, and aim for step-by-step improvement — sustainability is a journey.

Read the full article about beef grazing operations and sustainability by Jonathan L. Gelbard, Ph.D., at TriplePundit.