Kangaroo: the Other Red Meat?
Everyone has heard the factoid about cow farts: The methane from cattle passing gas is apparently a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. (Though apparently cattle burps are an even bigger problem).
It sounds like something you’d see on Snopes but it’s actually true. And believe it or not, scientists are trying to fix it by tinkering with the animals’ diets. Even if cattle eat a natural diet of grass – which applies to so few modern farmed cattle anyway – apparently there’s a lot they can do by introducing new grasses and clovers.
Reducing meat or cutting it out altogether is one of the most effective ways you can tackle global warming, not just because of the flatulence but also because of the energy and land needed to grow animal feed.
However, if you are looking for a red meat fix with a (relatively) clear conscience, proponents want you to try kangaroo. The iconic Australian marsupials might be cute but they are also popular eating – a lean red meat not wholly unlike venison.
Now there’s another reason to eat them – apparently, kangaroos have a far more genteel digestive system so that flatulence problem does not arise. They’re reared on the land, rather than intensively farmed. Their soft paws do not damage the land and cause erosion, which can be a problem with hard-hooved animals such as cattle, especially in Australia.
Importing meat from the other side of the world is never going to be a green solution and I’m not sure if kangaroo farming would work in other countries without such vast land resources. But if you’re in Australia, you might want to consider buying kangaroo meat for yourself or as pet food.
Not everyone agrees that eating kangaroo is a good idea. Maybe it’s not the whole answer, but it’s certainly worth thinking creatively about how we can break the meat habit or get our fix in more environmentally benign ways.
Image: Mr. Imperial
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5 Comments
February 1st, 2009 at 8:38 pm
How is eating a kangaroo going to give you a clear conscience. Wouldn’t the more elegant solution be to eat a healthy vegetarian diet. That way you can reduce global warming, be healthier, and not have to worry about your conscience. Here is a video that describes factory farming practices if your interested: http://meat.org
February 1st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Great article. I recently decided to eat Kangaroo meat instead of other red meat for exactly these reasons. I have even included a photo of my Australia Day BBQ Kangaroo kebabs in my blog (along with a discussion of why I made the switch).
Kangaroo is now widely avalable in all supermarkets with a great range of cuts available.
It still surprises me that many australians are horrified at the thought of eating kangaroo – yet they eat beef with its HUGE ecological footprit.
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February 1st, 2009 at 9:30 pm
George, Tricia, thank you both for your input. I’d like to see carnivores try “flexitarianism” – eating meat only a few times/days per week. And generally, if one is eating meat, reduction in portion size and buying local/organic are musts.
February 8th, 2009 at 8:29 am
@geore Thank you for the link to the video on factory farming practices – it’s something that genuinely concerns me and a lot of environmentalists. Part of the point with kangaroo is that it’s not factory farmed.
I think it would be great for a whole host of reasons, including environmental ones, if more people became vegetarian, but I don’t see it as black and white. Only 5% of the US population is vegetarian and not all of the other 95% will be willing to quit meat altogether, but they might be willing to cut back and make better choices. It’s important for our planet that we bring them with us and all make an effort.
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April 8th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Great post. sorry I’m a self confessed meat lover probably because I do live on a farm. Kangaroo I have tried last time I was in Australia. They’re selling Australian Brushtailed Possums over here in New Zealand to the Asian markets as Kiwibears. Strange but true. We have over 71 million of these introduced pests destroying our native flora and fauna – at least they’ve found a use for these noxious creatures. Love your site awesome.
Liz
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