There are approximately 12.6 million cattle in Canada. This includes approximately 4.2 million beef cows, 4.3 million beef calves and 200,000 beef bulls on pasture, and 1 million dairy cows. Almost all dairy and beef cattle farms in Canada are family-owned and operated. For example, corn grown for corn flakes only uses the kernels. Cattle make use of millions of acres of Canadian grazing land that will not grow crops because it is too dry, wet, rocky, cold or hilly.
Cattle are recyclers.
As plants grow, they take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. When cattle eat the grass, they burp the gases back into the air. Some of this gas is carbon dioxide that is then recycled by the plants. Ruminants also produce methane gas. Manure is a natural by-product of cattle production and is a natural fertilizer.