MR. FIRESIDE: Mitloehner traces much of the public confusion over meat and milk's role and climate change to two sentences in a 2006 United Nations report, titled "Livestock's Long Shadow."

Methane emitted by livestock is part of the biogenic carbon cycle, a natural process.  Cattle are the most important species.  In the US, we have 90 million beef cattle, and 9 million dairy cows.  We have a lot, about 100 million large ruminants in the United States.  --Dr. Frank Mitloehner 

And Elon Musk, 

The animals are not going to make any difference to global warming.

I want to be super clear about that. It will not matter, you will not even be able to measure it. --Elon Musk

Here is the 2006 UN Report, titled, "Livestock's Long Shadow."

Cattle are the most important species.  In the US, we have 90 million beef cattle, and 9 million dairy cows.  We have a lot, about 100 million large ruminants in the United States.  Just so you know, prior to the European settlement of the United States, we also had a 100 million large ruminants in the country, but at that time it was 67 million bison and 40 million pronghorn antelopes.  

The white people from Europe came here and they slaughtered most of those and replaced them over time with domesticated ruminants.

If the total number of ruminants hasn't changed in that time, then the contribution of ruminants to global warming hasn't changed in that time period?

That's correct. That is a true statement but it's only part of the story it is a true statement that over the last 250 years or so we have not added additional biogenic methane.  I say biogenic because biogenic means related to the biological activity of animals or rice patties in contrast to biogenic methane.  There's also a thing called fossil methane, associated with the storage of fossil fuel.  Now how is that different?  Is fossil methane different from biogenic methane that comes from cows?  And the answer is yes.

FDA approves Bovaer for use in US dairy cattle

First, I need to give you some background on how Bovaer was originally made.

And how it is NOW being added to BEEF and MILK.

Bovaer is a new feed additive or new animal drug.

It's made by DSM-firmenich.

The major shareholder is Blackrock.

Vid credit @LeilaniDowding pic.twitter.com/TSKrpVGVxb

— Mr_Fireside (@Mr_Fireside) December 3, 2024

Dr. Mitloehner also said:

Methane emitted by livestock is part of the biogenic carbon cycle, a natural process.

And:

Livestock numbers remain stable and have done so since the PRE-EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT!

So, how can livestock add to climate change? pic.twitter.com/0vIwRVE1bS

— Mr_Fireside (@Mr_Fireside) December 3, 2024