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.

###### 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

The beef industry, not surprisingly, does not accept the results of these studies.

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

###### Dairy cattle were responsible for 17 percent, sheep 9 percent, buffalo 7 percent, pigs 5 percent and goats 4 percent. The largest increases came in Congo, the Central African Republic and Oman, the study found. The study estimated production of greenhouse gases in 237 countries.

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Careful With The Resources

The other study, from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, focused on the industrialized food chain in the United States. This study looked at grazing, growing food for the cattle, and the use of irrigation water.

The study should not just guide consumer choice, but also government policy, Eshel said.

###### Eventually, the resource runs out.]]>