Talking Points of Interest to Beef Consumers

It’s easy to list these nutrients and describe what they can do for the body, but to drive the point home, in a study completed in Kenya found that animal-sourced protein, such as those in meat and milk, increased school children’s exam scores by 45% compared to students who solely relied on a vegetable diet[2].

Besides the nutritional benefits of including lean beef in a healthy diet, cattle production in Florida is essential to our state’s environmental health. Ranchlands provide green space (oxygen) for residents to enjoy, carbon sequestration services, and water filtration services. Cattle are able to utilize land not suitable for crop production. Cattle can convert, not so nutrient-dense, grasses into an edible product. The grasslands serve as a water filter, cleaning the heavy nutrient loads from other areas as it moves through the watershed.

In addition to the natural resources services, ranchers provide habitat for native and endangered wildlife and plant species. Open spaces and natural environments are crucial for animals such as the Florida Panther, bald eagles, gopher tortoises, and the American alligator. Plant species such as wild orchids, ferns, and cypress trees also thrive on ranchlands.

Selling this nutritional and environmentally beneficial product is trending. If you already sell directly or are considering it, take the opportunity to educate the consumer about the healthy product they are consuming and the environmental benefits ranches provide.