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Are Cows Destroying the Planet? One Film Thinks So

New Documentary Blames the Beef Cattle Industry for Environmental Woes

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

A soon-to-be-released environmental documentary called, “Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret,” aims to make the case that the beef cattle industry is the number one culprit for destroying the planet.

The film’s vegan creators Keegan Kuhn and Kip Anderson, say there is “one single industry destroying the plant more than any other,” and that is animal agriculture. The documentary says that raising livestock causes serious environmental issues, including: global warming, water depletion, deforestation, species extinction, and ocean dead zones.

On the YouTube channel for Cowspiracy, it says “this documentary will be as eye-opening as Blackfish and as inspiring as An Inconvenient Truth.” The trailer for the documentary goes so far to suggest that the film-makers are putting their lives at risk by creating the film. According, to the clip, the livestock industry is so powerful that even environmental groups are afraid to tackle the issue.

According to Tiffany Do, who blogs for SFWeekly, the film ends with Anderson petting a cow saying “instead of eating others, I’ll eat for others.” The full length film is expected to come to theatres in the United States this summer.

If you scroll down the bottom of the Cowspiracy website, it encourages readers to “take the 30-day vegan challenge!” Do you think the documentary is “vegan propaganda,” or is there some truth to their claims? What are your thoughts? Comment under this article.

The trailer can be viewed below:

 


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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Felipe Hickmann from Laval University explores how nutritional strategies and manure management impact biogas production in pig farming. He breaks down the science behind anaerobic digestion at low temperatures and explains how dietary adjustments affect methane production and environmental sustainability. Learn how producers can reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Lowering crude protein can reduce nitrogen in manure, but only if animal intake doesn’t compensate by increasing feed consumption."

Meet the guest: Dr. Felipe Hickmann / felipe-hickmann-963853a6 is a PhD research assistant at Laval University, specializing in swine and poultry sustainability. With extensive experience in manure management, nutritional strategies, and precision livestock technologies, he contributes to improving environmental outcomes in animal agriculture.