Deck 24: Agriculture: Raising Livestock Can Meat Be Part of a Healthy, Environmentally Conscious Diet

Question 1

Which of the following is LEAST efficient and slowest at converting the food it eats into body mass?

A)CAFO-reared cattle
B)grass-fed cattle
C)chickens
D)pigs
E)salmon

Answer 1

grass-fed cattle

Question 2

Infographic 2 tells us that eating one red meat serving per day ___________ compared with those who ate no red meat.

A)increases the risk of dying by 50%
B)has no effect on the risk of dying
C)decreases the risk of dying by about 25%
D)increases the risk of dying by about 25%
E)increases the risk of dying by about 1.25%

Answer 2

increases the risk of dying by about 25%

Question 3

___________ affects diet by increasing the demand for animal food products.

A)Affluence
B)A food recall
C)Eating lower on the food chain
D)Use of antibiotics
E)Poverty

Answer 3

Affluence

Question 4

According to Infographic 2,what is the relationship between income and consumption of meat for most nations? How is Japan different? Why do you think Japan is an outlier?

Question 5

Refer to Infographic 2.Explain the relationship between red meat consumption and mortality.In designing a study to test this relationship,what other variables that affect mortality would need to be controlled for (taken into account)to avoid confounding the results?

Question 6

According to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health,increased consumption of __________ increases one's risk of dying.

A)chicken
B)tuna
C)red meat
D)turkey
E)nonmeat sources of protein

Question 7

Overconsumption of meat has been associated with which of the following?

A)diabetes
B)some cancers
C)cardiovascular disease
D)diabetes,some cancers,and cardiovascular disease
E)both diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Question 8

According to Infographic 2,in 2005 China's annual per capita meat consumption was _____ kilograms/year.

A)5,000
B)125
C)60
D)20
E)The information cannot be determined from this infographic.

Question 9

The __________________ refers to the amount of edible food that is produced per unit of feed input.

A)output per input ratio
B)feed conversion ratio
C)product per feed ratio
D)feed footprint
E)weight per time ratio

Question 10

According to the graph below,the incidence of
E.coli contamination?

E.coli foodborne illness in the United States has trended toward the set goal of no more than 0.6 cases per 100,000.What are some preharvest and postharvest strategies used in the beef industry to reduce

Question 11

According to Infographic 2,a country with a per capita gross domestic product of 20,000 U.S.$ PPP would most likely have a per capita meat consumption near _____ kilograms/year.

A)2,000
B)80
C)100
D)70
E)The information cannot be determined from this infographic.

Question 12

Which of the following is a reason cattle farmers and the beef industry argue for the current system of rearing animals?

A)Overconsumption of meat contributes to obesity and heart disease.
B)Air and water pollution increase in areas of CAFOs.
C)Industrial-scale production allows meat suppliers to raise more beef than ever before.
D)The overuse of antibiotics in CAFO-reared livestock can lead to resistant strains of bacteria.
E)Meat can become contaminated at any stage of processing.

Question 13

How would bacterial contamination of steak differ from that of ground beef? How does the U.S.Department of Agriculture recommend ground meat be cooked?

Question 14

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Seventy percent of cropland in the United States is used to grow food for livestock.
B)Globally,some 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions due to human activity are from livestock.
C)Nearly 75% of U.S.-produced corn is used as animal feed.
D)Some 80% of beef cattle spend the last few months of their lives in CAFO pens.
E)None-all of these statements are true.

Question 15

The water footprint to produce a pound of pork is _____.

A)7 pounds
B)90 gallons
C)23 gallons
D)7 pounds of feed and 23 gallons of water
E)The water footprint cannot be determined.

Question 16

According to most health experts,meat and dairy products are valuable sources of _____.

A)carbohydrates
B)nucleic acids
C)triglycerides
D)proteins
E)starches

Question 17

The Beef Recall of 2007 was caused by contamination with _____.

A)genetically modified beef
B)ammonia
C)E.coli strain
D)antibiotics

Question 18

Which of the following would help reduce the risk of human infection by

A)steam-washing animals prior to slaughter
B)adequate refrigeration of beef by grocery stores
C)cooking beef to an internal temperature of 160°F
D)development of a cattle vaccine for
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 19

The U.S.Department of Agriculture recommends that all ground meat be cooked to an internal temperature of _____.

A)98.6°F
B)100°F
C)140°F
D)160°F
E)200°F

Question 20

Affluence is best described as _____.

A)diet
B)wealth
C)poverty
D)consumption
E)demand

Question 21

If you pick up a package at the grocery store and it says,"grass-fed beef," what does that mean?

A)The cows in the CAFOs were fed grass instead of grain.
B)The cows have adapted,through several generations at the same farm,to digest grass instead of grain.
C)The cows are allowed to roam freely and graze on pasturelands.
D)The cows eat grass and quickly gain weight,making the meat very tender.
E)Since they are grass-fed,the cows have also been given high amounts of antibiotics.

Question 22

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)_________ the risk of meat contamination withE.coli because ___________________.

A)decrease; animals lack antibiotics in their feed
B)increase; animals tend to be covered in fecal matter when kept at high densities
C)decrease; a comprehensive database allows for immediate tracing back to the producer where the infection originated
D)increase; animals are exposed to higher levels of methane gas

Question 23

Describe why antibiotic resistance is likely to emerge as a result of raising livestock in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)where antibiotics are included in feed.

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of grass-fed beef?

A)Animal sickness is less of a problem.
B)The meat has more omega-3 fatty acids.
C)There is a reduced need for antibiotics.
D)The animals gain weight nearly as rapidly as feedlot animals do.

Question 25

What is a result from raising animals in CAFOs?

A)loss of biodiversity
B)antibiotic resistance
C)habitat destruction
D)air and water pollution
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 26

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,CAFOs produce more than _____ of all our animal food and account for _________ of all animal farms.

A)80%; 5%
B)75%; 10%
C)50%; 50%
D)90%; 90%
E)25%; 50%

Question 27

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding cattle?

A)Cattle are adapted to digest corn.
B)Cattle gain weight faster when movement is restricted.
C)Antibiotics fed to cattle are not passed to consumers in the meat.
D)None of these answers is correct.

Question 28

List and describe several ethical issues involved with raising animals in CAFOs.

Question 29

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)_____.

A)allow more beef to be produced with fewer animals
B)require less grazing land per animal
C)reduce the need for antibiotic application
D)allow more beef to be produced with fewer animals,require less grazing land per animal,and reduce the need for antibiotic application
E)both allow more beef to be produced with fewer animals and require less grazing land per animal

Question 30

In the United States,which of the following are predominantly raised in CAFOs?

A)cattle
B)pigs
C)chickens
D)cattle,pigs,and chickens
E)both cattle and pigs

Question 31

The _______ footprint refers to the amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases released by an action.

A)water
B)feed
C)carbon
D)environmental
E)ecological

Question 32

List several reasons beef-industry representatives would argue for industrial-scale production of beef in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs),and then list several objections raised by critics of this industrial model.

Question 33

What are some advantages and disadvantages to feeding cattle grains instead of grass?

Question 34

In America,CAFOs have enabled all of the following EXCEPT _____.

A)the ability to grow many thousands more food animals
B)increased availability of inexpensive meat to people of rising affluence
C)cheaper fruits and vegetables
D)increased availability of inexpensive meat to low-income individuals
E)increased accessibility of meat to all people

Question 35

Which of the following is INCORRECT regarding antibiotic use in large-scale livestock operations prior to 2012?

A)Animals were given the same antibiotics that humans used to treat disease.
B)Antibiotics helped reduce the risk of disease spreading through high-density animal confinements.
C)Antibiotics escaped into the environment through contaminated water and soil.
D)Only sick animals received antibiotics.
E)None-all of these statements are correct.

Question 36

How much of the corn produced in the United States is used as animal feed?

A)15%
B)25%
C)55%
D)60%
E)75%

Question 37

By some estimates,17 to 34 acres worth of grain crop are required to produce a ton of beef (about four cows).This same amount of land could have been used to grow food to feed ____________ times more people than the ton of beef can feed.

A)1 to 2
B)5 to 10
C)10 to 20
D)30 to 40
E)90 to 100

Question 38

A cancer-causing toxin is fat soluble (it is stored in the fat tissue of an organism).In the following food chain,which organism would likely have the largest concentration of this toxin: plankton,small fish (eats plankton),larger fish (eats smaller fish),bird of prey (eats larger fish)?

A)plankton
B)small fish
C)larger fish
D)bird of prey

Question 39

Which of the following is a benefit of intense mechanized feedlot farming relative to traditional open-pasture farms?

A)Animals receive a highly diverse food supply.
B)Manure is easily harvested to be sold as fertilizer.
C)The amount of land required is minimized.
D)Animals receive a highly diverse food supply,manure is easily harvested to be sold as fertilizer,and the amount of land required is minimized.
E)Manure is easily harvested to be sold as fertilizer,and the amount of land required is minimized.

Question 40

Which of the following actions increases the carbon footprint?

A)eutrophication of waterways due to nitrogen and phosphorus from manure spills
B)removal of natural vegetation from land in order to grow feed crops
C)methane gas emitted by livestock
D)eutrophication of waterways due to nitrogen and phosphorus from manure spills,removal of natural vegetation from land in order to grow feed crops,and methane gas emitted by livestock
E)both removal of natural vegetation from land in order to grow feed crops and methane gas emitted by livestock

Question 41

According to journalist and sustainable-food advocate Michael Pollan,"Cheap food is dishonestly priced.It is,in fact,unconscionably expensive." What does this mean for beef production and consumption in the United States,and what can be done about it?

Question 42

U.S.food policies largely support ___________ agriculture.

A)sustainable
B)industrial
C)traditional
D)organic
E)subsidy-free

Question 43

Kim Ferraro says the true price of producing beef should be reflected in the purchasing price of beef.This would include _____.

A)environmental costs
B)costs of air pollution
C)land degradation costs
D)water depletion costs
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 44

According to Infographic 6,food safety and the environment are most important to which economic development status group?

A)low development,many smallholders
B)slow industrialization
C)rapid industrialization
D)postindustrial nations
E)This cannot be determined from the infographic.

Question 45

Which U.S.Farm Bill legislation policies have been adapted or removed in recent years?

A)lax regulation of wastewater treatment
B)routine use of antibiotics
C)subsidies that enable feedlot operators to buy grain for less than it costs to grow
D)both routine use of antibiotics and subsidies that enable feedlot operators to buy grain for less than it costs to grow
E)lax regulation of wastewater treatment,routine use of antibiotics,and subsidies that enable feedlot operators to buy grain for less than it costs to grow

Question 46

The USDA only acknowledges free-range _____.

A)beef
B)pork
C)poultry
D)salmon
E)None of these answers is acknowledged as free-range by the USDA.

Question 47

Why are grass-fed animals considered to represent a net gain for the human food supply?

A)They are raised following ethical guidelines.
B)They eat only what they have naturally evolved to eat-that is,grass.
C)They eat grass that humans cannot eat on land that is otherwise unsuitable for human crops.
D)They are raised on pastureland that does not require pesticides and fertilizer.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 48

Do you think sustainable animal rearing methods can supply enough meat and other animal products to meet the current levels of demand for such items in the United States? Based on your answer,do you think this is a bad thing?

Question 49

What do proponents claim as benefits to meat from free-range,grass-fed animals?

A)increased level of omega-3 fatty acids
B)less saturated fat
C)less weight gain
D)both increased level of omega-3 fatty acids and less saturated fat
E)increased level of omega-3 fatty acids,less saturated fat,and less weight gain

Question 50

Do sustainable animal rearing methods address the disadvantages of CAFOs?

Question 51

Infographic 6 depicts UN FAO recommendations for taking into account the importance of each of four factors in developing a country's policies regarding raising livestock.Describe the shift in importance of factors as a country's income increases and the percentage of the country's income that comes from raising livestock decreases.

Question 52

What was the rationale for the original U.S.Farm Bill? What was it designed to do?

Question 53

How would raising grass-fed animals ultimately affect ecological problems such as erosion and pollution from fertilizers and pesticides?

Question 54

What is a polyculture farm?

A)a farm that rears different species of animals together
B)a farm that grows different species of crops together
C)a farm that has a set rotation schedule for animal feedings in particular areas and growth schedules for crops
D)a farm that relies less on fertilizers and pesticides
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 55

Which of the following historical federal policies has/have supported the CAFO model?

A)subsidies that allow feedlot operators to buy grain for less than it costs to grow
B)FDA approval for routine use of antibiotics in animal feed
C)lax regulation of wastewater treatment
D)subsidies that allow feedlot operators to buy grain for less than it costs to grow,FDA approval for routine use of antibiotics in animal feed,and lax regulation of wastewater treatment
E)both FDA approval for routine use of antibiotics in animal feed and lax regulation of wastewater treatment

Question 56

Which of the following is a UN FAO recommendation regarding livestock production?

A)Plant-based diets must be adopted globally.
B)Environmental concerns outweigh food-security concerns in most countries.
C)The biggest issue for developing countries is food safety.
D)The focus of an agricultural policy should depend on the level of industrialization.
E)Postindustrial countries should help bolster food security in developing countries.

Question 57

On a(n)_________ farm,chickens follow cows onto a pasture to consume fly larvae on manure,so the flies do not hatch and bother the cows.

A)monoculture
B)polyculture
C)feed-lot
D)industrial
E)CAFO

Question 58

The original U.S.Farm Bill was created during which time period?

A)the Great Depression
B)the 1980s farming crisis
C)the 1970s corn blight
D)the end of World War II
E)2008-2010

Question 59

In terms of energy inputs required for raising beef,compare the industrial model,where cattle are fed grains,with a grass-fed model,where animals graze on pastureland.When considering agricultural policy,which method is more sustainable?

Question 60

When developing policy objectives,which economic development status group shown in Infographic 6 needs to focus most equally on all four factors?

A)low development,many smallholders
B)slow industrialization
C)rapid industrialization
D)postindustrial nations
E)This cannot be determined from the infographic.

Question 61

By 2050,an estimated 9.6 billion people will live on Earth.Which of the following would best help to ensure sustainable food security for all humans?

A)a decrease in the price of fast-food restaurant burgers in developing countries
B)an increase from 50% to 90% in the number of animal farms that are CAFOs
C)the minimization or elimination of dairy products in the diets of most adults
D)a cultural shift involving a decrease in meat consumption in favor of a more plant-based diet

Question 62

Science Literacy Use Infographic 5 below to answer the following questions.
Approximately how many liters of irrigation water are needed to produce a pound of beef in the United States?

A)1,400
B)1,500
C)16,000
D)18,000

Question 63

Match each term in the left-hand column to the statement that it best exemplifies.

Question 64

If Mike does want to continue to eat beef,what is the BEST suggestion you can make to him?

A)He should eat hamburgers instead of steak,since he is less likely to have health issues with hamburgers.
B)He ought to reduce his beef intake by swapping beef for other meats or plant-based foods a day or two day a week.
C)He should feel good for knowing plants cannot provide the protein he needs to continue his activity level.
D)All of these answers are good suggestions.

Question 65

Science Literacy Use Infographic 5 below to answer the following questions.
The type of livestock that contributes the most to land area used,water irrigation,and greenhouse gas emissions is _____.

A)eggs
B)pork
C)dairy
D)poultry
E)beef

Question 66

Susan asks you if she should cut out all animal products to help the environment.Thinking back to your environmental science class,to help Susan decide,you tell her that _____.

A)raising cows for dairy products uses less than 90% of the land and water that raising cattle for meat does
B)excluding eggs and dairy as part of a vegan diet will not result in any extra land to help feed more people
C)all grasslands can support food crops and should not be used to raise animals for meat or dairy products
D)All of these are true statements you can tell Susan to help her decide.

Question 67

You tell Mike about the feed conversion ratio of different animals,and you recommend if he won't give up eating meat,then he could consume meat with the lowest feed conversion ratio.This would be _____.

A)pork
B)beef
C)poultry

Question 68

Science Literacy Use Infographic 5 below to answer the following questions.
How much greenhouse gas emissions per pound could be saved if someone switched from eating beef to chicken?

A)97 kg
B)78 kg
C)9 kg
D)88 kg
E)19 kg

Question 69

"Eating lower on the food chain" means _____.

A)becoming a vegan-not consuming any animal products,even eggs or cheese
B)becoming a vegetarian-cutting out all meat from your diet
C)eating chicken instead of beef
D)spending more money on grass-fed beef
E)reducing meat and dairy consumption for more plant-based food

Question 70

If U.S.agricultural policy changes and CAFOs give way to more pasture-raised cattle,we will have ______ meat which will be _____ expensive.

A)less; less
B)more; less
C)less; more
D)more; less.
E)no; more

Question 71

In terms of how much energy input is required to produce food,it is more energetically efficient to consume which of the following?

A)steak
B)milk
C)tuna
D)eggs
E)broccoli

Question 72

Referring to the graph below,explain how the number of people an area of land can support varies with the meat content of their diet.What happens to that relationship when the total consumption of fat per day increases to 35% or more?

Question 73

Your friend refers to herself as a "meat and potatoes kind of girl." That was the way she was raised.How could you describe to her the benefits to both the environment and to her personal health of a more plant-based diet with reduced meat consumption?

Question 74

Science Literacy Use Infographic 5 below to answer the following questions.
The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions per pound of protein consumed in the United States for all the prominent types of livestock grown is _____ kg.

A)97
B)147
C)125
D)22

Question 75

What does it mean to "eat lower on the food chain?" How can it help make livestock production more sustainable?

Question 76

Science Literacy Use Infographic 5 below to answer the following questions.
What is the order of land area needed from LEAST to GREATEST to produce the types of animal meat for consumption?

A)beef → dairy → pork → eggs
B)beef → pork → poultry
C)poultry → pork → beef
D)eggs → poultry → dairy → beef

Question 77

What could you tell Mike about the health issues of eating meat?

A)Meat is the best way to get enough protein in his diet.
B)Overconsumption of meat can lead to heart disease and increases the risk of cancer.
C)A healthy vegan diet can provide as much protein as eating meat.
D)All of these answers are health issues.
E)Overconsumption of meat can lead to heart disease and increases the risk of cancer,and a healthy vegan diet can provide as much protein as eating meat are correct.