May is Beef Month!
Have you thanked a cow today?
Each year the Governor proclaims May as Beef Month in our gorgeous state of Kansas, and for good reason. Did you know that there are 6.4 million head of cattle in our state? Meaning cattle outnumber people more than two-to-one in our state, how cool is that? Not only that, Kansas is the third largest producer of cattle in our country…Third! That makes cattle one of the largest sources of revenue for our great state.
Seems silly that one would Thank a Cow but it’s really not. Cattle are actually integral to our daily lives…most things they provide for us you would never even think of, but it’s true.
When people think of what cattle provide for us they obviously they think of beef, and hopefully they also think of milk…which leads to cream, cheese, ice cream and butter…all the wonderful, delicious foods that we get from milk.
Some people aren’t dairy fans, and others don’t eat beef – and to each their own – everyone should eat what they want! I am clearly a huge fan of both (I love a steak and I’d eat almost anything if it had butter on it, LOL, but seriously.). But we all, most likely, use something made from a cattle byproduct every. single. day. In fact, according to the USDA approximately 44% of the animal is used as byproducts upon harvest.
What is a byproduct?
A byproduct is a secondary product from the intended use of something. In this case, beef would be the product or intended use of cattle, everything else would be a byproduct. When an animal is harvested, 99% of that animal is used, 99%! We want to ensure that we are using absolutely everything we can.
When you start to think about ‘byproducts’ that we get from cattle, perhaps the hide would come to mind. The hide of cattle has been keeping us warm, safe and in-style for hundreds of years. Leather and suede are byproducts of cattle processing, both, of course, are cowhide. Your shoes & handbag, the leather seats in your car, the couch in your living room, and your son’s football, and so much more, all come from cattle hide.
And leather is just one item! There are so many cattle byproducts in so many aspects of our lives. Don’t believe me? Here is a quick list of items produced using cattle byproducts:
Art: paint, paint brushes, dyes & inks, and glue
At home: glue, adhesives in plywood, wallpaper, dice, felt, floor wax, insulation and wallpaper
Clothing: Felt hats, leather jackets, chaps, shoes, gloves, luggage and handbags.
Cosmetics: lipstick, anti-aging creams, soaps, make-up, creams and lotions
Driving: Chemicals in tires, binders in asphalt, leather in seats, and antifreeze
Edible byproducts: gelatin, gum, candies, and marshmallows
Medical: Gel caps on vitamins and medicines, medicines, sutures, and medical tape
Musical instruments: Drum heads, instrument strings & piano keys
Sports: tennis racquet strings, balls, saddles, and gloves
Plus some fireworks and explosives too!
So many items and so many things that cattle provide for us that we use every day. Some surprising, possibly very surprising – others not as much when you start to think about them, and I’m also guessing that reading one of the items on the list will quickly be followed-up with a Google search!
Cattle Ranchers are thankful for cows every day. Cattle are their livelihood. It is their job is to care for the animals and in turn, those cattle provide for us, all of us.
I’m hopeful that you found something on this list that you use often that you have never thought before came from a cow, and will now think beyond the burger and the milkshake.
Cattle are pretty special to all of us; hope you will join me in celebrating May is Beef Month, and Thank a Cow!
