If you think you’re the least likely person on the planet to forgo eating meat, think again. Howard Lyman is a cattle rancher who grew up on a dairy farm and for many years ran a feedlot operation in Montana. As a 4th generation farmer, eating animal products runs in his blood.
Mad Cowboy takes readers through the whirlwind that resulted in Lyman eating only plants. Major health events as well as other bizarre experiences led him to becoming a leader in the promotion of organic farming practices as well as discouraging the consumption of what was once his livelihood – animals. His unique perspective offers insights into the world of farming at a level no researcher or journalist could ever compete with. Lyman discusses the widespread use of chemicals, insecticides, hormones and antibiotics, digestive stress resulting from an unnatural diet fed to cattle, repulsive animal living and processing conditions and lack of enforcement of regulations that are meant to keep the consumer safe.
When Lyman outlines the inefficiencies in farming it seems absurd that we arrived at an animal-rich diet in the first place. He points out that when grain is fed to cattle all of the fiber, 99 percent of the carbohydrates and even 90 percent of the original protein is lost. To produce just one pound of beef requires 16 pounds of grain. That’s a lot of extra work, especially when you realize we’d be better off just eating the grain! While an acre of land can produce 40,000 pounds of potatoes (about a semi-trailer full), it can only raise 250 pounds of beef. To put that into perspective, the average American eats more meat than that in just 1 year.
As someone who has experienced the complications involved with an animal and processed food-rich diet, Lyman appreciates the health consequences of food choices. He sums up the vast amount of chronic disease research with a simple man’s statement that “..all these different problems are really just varied symptoms of a disease called the animal-based diet.” He takes it a step further with words of encouragement for those who feel they are destined for poor health “..there’s only one thing we’re likely to inherit that can cause a heart attack, and that’s bad eating habits.”
An easy and enjoyable read highly recommended for those who think they couldn’t survive without meat.
