This was in Omaha World Herald April 3
How many cattle are fatten on Grass
Glenn Pollock


Cattle use little water

                               The lead item in the March 18 "Small Doses"
column contained a glaring error. Rather than
                               repeat it here, let me explain correctly
that cattle consume less than two-tenths of 1 percent of
                               all water used in the United States. In
fact, grassland areas best used by cattle actually
                               contribute to increased water quality.

                               Considering all factors in beef cattle
production, including direct consumption, irrigation of
                               pastures and crops and carcass processing,
it takes approximately 440 gallons of water to
                               produce a pound of boneless beef in the
United States, according to Dr. Jim Oltjen, University
                               of California at Davis (November 1994).
Irrigated pasture and crops fed to beef cattle account
                               for only about 5 percent of all water used
in the United States.

                               Further, in February 1999, the National
Cattlemen's Beef Association released a new guide to
                               water quality that will aid cattle producers
as they work to protect and maintain the clean water
                               on their family farms and ranches.
                               Mike Fitzgerald, Lincoln
                               Vice president of communications, Nebraska
Cattlemen Inc.

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