Free-range+cattle+VS+feedlot-raised+cattle

=Maasai Cattle Ranching vs. American Feedlot Ranching=



//'Without the land and cattle, there will be no Maasai.'// ** Tepilit ole Saitoti The life of the Maasai people is centered around their cattle. Cattle is used for everything, milk, construction of homes (urine and feces), blood and on occassion food. The Maasai are nomadic pastoralists and therefore move their herds from one place to another to find fresh water sources, and to give the grass a chance to grow again. Traditionally, this is made possible by a communal land tenure system in which everyone in a locality shares access to water and pasture. This rotational movement of cattle allows the Maasai to live sustainably and continue their way of life. In time sof drought however, the Maasai of a given locality will allow otehrs to enter their lands. Knowing that at one point in time they too might need access to others land to sustain their herds.
 * Maasai Cattle Ranching:



A feedlot is a type of factory farming which is pretty much the last step of the cattle's journey before going to the slaughterhouse. These feedlots contain thousands of animals in numerous pens which are normally cramped and have little space for the animals. Around the pins are troughs containing grains soaked in hormones or any other enhancing chemicals that might cause the cattle to grow bigger. Instead of grass, the cattle is fed grain which is also a drawback since the cattle's digestive system is fit for grass, not grain. Once the cattle has reached maximum size, the cow is then sent to a slaughterhouse where it will eventually be killed and sold for meat.
 * American Feedlot Ranching:**




 * **Maasai Cattle Ranching** || **American Feedlot Ranching** ||
 * < **__Inputs:__**
 * Large plots of land
 * Water
 * Grass
 * Human labor
 * __Outputs:__**
 * Wastes such as cow manure
 * Soil erosion from the constant trampling caused by the movement of cattle
 * Very good food quality due to the natural conditions the cattle lives under
 * Although cattle isn't generally used for meat, their milk is extremely healthy and free from chemicals that may appear in milk from feedlot cattle || **__Inputs:__**
 * Various grains
 * Hay
 * Corn
 * By-products of food processing
 * Human labor for the creation of pens
 * Governmental permits for the eventualy waste generation that will result from the numerous cows on the feedlots
 * Hormones which enhance the cattles size
 * Bovine Somatropin
 * __Outputs:__**
 * Wastes such as cow manure
 * Food-borne illnesses
 * Methane gas from the cow manure
 * Runoff of chemicals from the feed that is given to the cattle ||


 * __Socio-cultural Aspects:__

Maasai Cattle:** Traditional Maasai belief states that in the past, God entrusted the world's cattle to them for safe keeping when the earth and sky split during the beginning of time. This historical belief therefore justifys the importance of cattle within the Maasai culture. Cattle is most important within the Maasai society, not only are the cows used for things such as milk but also the cattle is a form of wealth. Wealth is measured by cows, live stock such as cattle are the primary source of income for the Maasai people. Livestock serves as a social utility and plays an important role in the Maasai economy. The cattle is also incorporated into the Maasai wedding; cattle given as a dowry and once again underscores the idea of wealth within that family.

American feedlots don't associate much with socio-cultural aspects of American; however there are some things that tie it in. For instance, American feedlot relates to the American concept of consumerism. Rather than mimic the ranching style of the Maasai, the feedlots mass produce and rapidly "grow" cattle in order to produce more meat. It is almost like industrializing agriculture. The methods associated with feedlots ensure a steady, reasonably priced stream of meat to consumers. Although cows normally eat grass, the grain given is easy and cheap to grow and thus adding on to the concept of rapid production. The feedlot ties in completely with the consumerism culture that now plagues America.
 * American Feedlot:**


 * **Maasai Cattle Ranching** || **American Feedlot Ranching** ||
 * **__Environmental Aspects:__**
 * Desertification
 * Overgrazing cause by the cattle which eat the grass
 * Soil erosion is a result of the constant movement of cattle
 * Deforestation occurs from the burning of bush in order to create pastorial land
 * Release of methane gas from the manure of cattle || **__Environmental Aspects:__**
 * Leaching of harmful chemicals into the outside environment
 * Septic systems failure to prevent runoff
 * Methan emission from manure
 * Cruelty to animals within the feedlots
 * Release of greenhouse gases ||

[] [] [|http://www.stpt.usf.edu/~jsokolov/211maasai.htm] [] [] http://www.goveg.com/index.aspx
 * __//Bibliography://__**