The many lives of cattle

Believe it or not, cattle play a pretty vital part in your daily life.  I’m not talking about their important role as they are paired with a tasty baked potato but the role they play away from the dinner table. Cattle are most often thought of as the appetizing sides of beef that they are, but because of that, many of their other important uses are overlooked.  Those that are looking to put beef out of business because they are “harmful to the environment” don’t realize that ridding the menu of steaks and hamburgers also takes away the other important products they provide. 

Cattle don’t just afford consumers a hearty, nutritious staple to feed their families.  Aside from beef, cattle also provide important products that help make up many other kinds of staples in our homes. It may surprise you to learn that only 60% of a cow is used for consumption as beef.  Skin, bones, organs, tendons, ligaments and other tissue make up the other 40%.  Rather than wasting the inedible portions, these parts are used to make important by-products that we routinely use.

Through creative and inventive means, nearly everything from the horns to the hooves of cattle can be used to make important goods, many that we use daily. The vast list of by-products that utilize some part of the animal varies from vital things like medications to other products like make-up and perfume that are more of a luxury.  Whether you realize it or not, it’s likely that your day is brought to you by cattle.  A quick look will show you what more we can thank cattle for.

It’s widely known that cow hides are the basis of leather products.  Products such as car seats, wallets, footballs, furniture, book bindings, boots, cases, saddles,  jackets, belts, baseball gloves, and purses just to name a few .  Leather is strong and durable, making it a smart choice for anything you want to last.  The hide can also be used to produce sheetrock, gelatin, flavorings, gummy bears, marshmallows, adhesives and medicines.  The hair on the hide is often used for various brushes, air filters, insulation and textiles.  

Cattle fatty acids provide a myriad of uses, more than just as commonly thought of lubricants. Fat from cattle is used in creating fabric softener, chalk, cement, antifreeze and rubber.  Many hygiene and beauty products use cattle fat such as make-up, shaving cream, deodorant, mouthwash, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and cosmetics.  Cattle fat by-products make a big bang, even in your Independence Day celebrations as they help make up explosives, fireworks and matches.

Bones, hooves and horns are used for medical necessities such as adhesive bandages, syringes, gelatin capsules and even as surgical collagen and bone grafts.  Common items such as buttons, emery boards, ball bearings, crochet needles, dice, and photographic film are made with bone, hoof or horn.  Other surprising products include cellophane tape and wrap, phonograph records and wall paper paste are made from those cattle parts as well.

The list of by-products is lengthy, but it helps us recognize the many benefits we have from cattle aside from the nutrition they provide.  While beefy entrees are the more glamorous product of cattle, all products play a key role in daily living.  Cattle, the ranchers that raise them and those that help us make the most of them deserve our thanks and support.  

A (mostly) complete list of by-products:

Bone, Horns, Hooves:

Adhesives, Plastics, Pet food, Plant food, Photographic film, Shampoo, Lamination, Wallpaper and wallpaper glue, Plywood, Refined Sugar, Charcoal, Fertilizer, Glass, Buttons, Dice, Combs, Piano keys, toothbrushes

Hide:

Gelatin, Flavorings, Sheetrock, Air filters, Paint brushes, Felt, Clothing, Accessories, Shoes, Sports equipment, Plaster, Adhesives, Medicines, Candies, Leather

Blood:

Imitation eggs, Cake mixes, Adhesives, Minerals, Medicines, Laboratory materials

Internal Organs:

Musical instrument strings, Tennis racket strings, Fishing line, Insulin, Medical sutures/stitches, Sausage casings, Hormones, Enzymes, Vitamins

Fat:

Chewing gum, Candles, Detergents, Fabric softener, Deodorant, Shaving cream, Perfume, Cosmetics, Lotions, Crayons, Paint, Lubricants, Biodiesel, Plastics, Waterproofing, Cement, Ceramics, Chalk, Explosives, Fireworks, Matches, Fertilizer, Pesticides, Plastics, Tires, Toothpaste, Antifreeze, Insulation, Linoleum, Rubber, Textiles, Medicines