Quote from: thetj on March 16, 2016, 02:48:30 PM
This is what I 'see/imagine' when I move my 100+ farm animals from pasture to pasture. They eat the grass so fast!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJvn7QXJPWw
Also, it should be noted that Rimworld does well to promote sustainable cattle raising, lol. In the US it is very hard to see this kind of cattle operation; most meat is produced in confined and bacteria ridden operations, where the animals suffer all kinds of torture. It's rare for urban residents to ever see footage of a cow running. They seem quite happy in that video, and hopefully also on my colony, before my colonists eat them! Yum, rib-eye or t-bone steak for dinner.
Hate to burst your bubble, however you are wrong in much of your assumption on how cattle are raised. Yes, there are some operations that are lucky enough and fiscally capable of running grass-fed cattle all year and raising possibly calves to steer/cow.
There are actually multiple stages of farming operations. The first are cow/calf operations fed on pasture and forage, in which calves are born and weaned off the cow. The calves depending on current weight and capability 'Valuable breeding stock/ desirable sires etc' are sold to another operation to continue being fattened up on grass/forage. If their weight is around 700-800 pounds, the calves are sent to a feedlot operation. Now these are your assumption of how cattle are raised in all their lives, fed only corn etc. Now what most people do not know is that.
1. The feedlot diets are gradually introduced in phases that can take up to several days per introduction. These diets are carefully monitored and adjusted by animal nutritionists. Molasses and other sweet feed are added to encourage the calves to adjust. It's not just corn being fed. The calves are monitored carefully to note any signs of stress or being put off feed. An upset calf equals feed cost and could result in having to get medical help. You do not want bloat happening in these yearlings it's not pretty.
2. The calves are only in feedlots for around 4-6 months. Not their entire lives, and are pretty content to just move around a little, eat some tasty feed and chew their cud.
3. Mistreating or abusing the cattle in any shape or form does not do the farmer, feedlot operator or anyone involved in the business as it causes nothing but emotional, fiscal and stress on all involved.
Sure, feeding cattle on pasture all year sounds like a wonderful idea. But, it's a risky move given that what happens when that grass runs out, or doesn't grow back as well. How will the soil be affected through the increased fertilizer. Will you be able to buy more land or be able to buy more forage/hays etc. Hence why land management in agriculture is extremely
Bacteria-ridden operations? Trust me, if operators see sick cattle, those cattle are immediately looked over and if needed a veterinarian will come out. Farmers can tell if a cow is sick through several ways such as being put off feed, separating itself from the herd, bloating, etc.
Learn more about agriculture in general, I highly recommend reading a few scientific articles or some animal science textbooks.
At my university's farm, nothing is more relaxing than watching our herds of dairy and beef cattle graze.