Celebrate Livestock On Earth Day
Two years ago the United Nations designated today International Mother Earth Day. Now I don’t have a problem if you want to call it that, just don’t expect me to. I’m Susan Allen ,Open Range will be right back. In 2009 the United Nations determined that April 22nd would be known as Mother Earth Day, I’ll substitute the word Father and if Earth Day is about creating an awareness and appreciation for the natural environment then lets make sure to include livestock in the mix. In the first chapter of the original “handbook” for environmental sustainability the Earth’s "Father" determined that land should produce living creatures according to their kinds. How interesting that the first kind listed right after the sea creatures and birds were livestock. Probably because cattle, sheep, goats, horse, etc were originally designed to serve a valuable role in the ecosystem by improving habitat. We see that in places like the Argentina pampas. Prior to the arrival of cattle it was covered by a coarse indigestible grass, today a host of species thrive nourished by tender grasses and clover made possible by cattle hoof prints that captured moisture and tilled the soil, manure that fertilized it and grazing that encouraged thick plant growth. Cattle should also be celebrated for their ability to convert plants humans can’t consume into a nutrient-dense food. So today plant a tree, ride a bike, go bagless, whatever, but why not celebrate The Father’s Earth Day’s amazingly sustainable cattle “on a thousand hills” with a juciy steak dinner.
