Thread by @GrassBased

Thread on #lysine #upcycling #ruminants
1/9
Only 4% of the feed consumed by the global domestic ruminant herd is *potentially* human-utilizable. The upcycling of the other 96% into resources that are essential to modern (& future) societies is under-appreciated.

2/9
Note:
- The grain fed represents only 10% of the global cereal production.
- 1/4 of the grain fed is off-grade & not human edible.
Source for this & previous slide.
Mottet, et al., (2018) cambridge.org/core/journals/…

3/9
In the US, only 11% of the lifetime feed consumed by a commercial fed steer is *potentially* human-utilizable.
Rotz, et al., (2019) sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

4/9
Let's look at the upcycling of just one globally-limiting essential nutrient in humanity's diet - lysine - based upon these assumptions:

5/9
Sources (in order)
Rotz, et al., 2019 (see slide 3)
nutrition.ansci.illinois.edu/static/feed_da…
extension.sdstate.edu/how-much-meat-…
Bailey, et al., (2020). cambridge.org/core/journals/…

6/9
US commercial beef cattle yield almost two and a half times more human-utilizable lysine than they consume.

7/9
We must evaluate yield/impacts/efficiency with more sophisticated metrics than gross [crude] protein or caloric conversions & supplies. Differences in bioavailability, land suitability for production, etc. must be considered or misleading conclusions will direct policy, etc.

8/9
Moughan (2021) has demonstrated how "The metrics matter" and "...illustrate[s] how calculations and representations, where the nutritional nuances are not fully reflected in the calculations, can lead to misleading conclusions with potentially serious implications."

9/9
Source for previous 2 slides:
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…