Cattle in a feedlot that sits on the northwestern edge of Garden City, Kansas. Photo: Keith Myers/Kansas City Star/MCT
Two new studies have found that beef is unhealthy - for planet Earth. Beef production is responsible for the release of gases that contribute to climate change, among other environmental effects.

One study focused on U.S. beef production. ###### The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also said that beef production pumps at least five times more planet-warming gases into our atmosphere than chicken or pork.

A study in the journal Climate Change found that developing nations raising cattle have significantly increased the amount of gases they produce - or emit. Planet-warming gases from livestock increased 51 percent from 1961 to 2010. ###### If you really need it to be from animal sources, that's still OK. You can still have bacon and eggs and whatever you want. As long as it's not beef, you have always made a significant step forward, because beef is so much more intensive than the rest."

Beef Industry Is Not Amused

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These studies oversimplify the complex production of beef, the industry says." The U.S. beef industry produces beef with lower greenhouse gas emissions than any other country," an industry statement reads.

Harmful gas emissions from developed countries such as the United States have been falling since 1970. ###### These poorer countries are eating more beef.

Beef cattle produced more than half the emissions. Dairy cattle were responsible for 17 percent, sheep 9 percent, buffalo 7 percent, pigs 5 percent and goats 4 percent. ###### The study estimated production of greenhouse gases in 237 countries.]]>