Biodynamic farmers call for a ’keep the cattle but change their diet’ campaign
Calls for the world’s population to prepare for a vegetarian future or fry through global warning caused by methane gas are a lot of hot air.
That’s according to two of the country’s leading biodynamic farmers who say calls for a world without meat to save the planet are misguided and misleading.
Farmers need help to escape the intensive farming practices which are causing excess global methane emissions. The answer is not to reduce drastically the amount of livestock but to change its diet.
That’s according to Ian and Denise Bell of Heritage Prime, one of the UK’s leading biodynamic meat producers.
The Bells have hit back at claims by Lord Stern, former adviser to the government on climate change, that people will have to consider vegetarianism to reduce global methane emissions from farmed animals.
But the Bells believe meat can be produced without contributing to climate change.
"The chemicals sprayed on crops, and pharmaceutical medicines given to speed up animal growth have given intensively-farmed species unnatural flatulence," says Ian Bell.
Biodynamic farming does not use pharmaceutical chemicals, and ensures the animals produce pure meat from pure pastures.
"Here at Heritage Prime, we have developed the biodynamic model even further," says Bell.
"Our animals have a pure, vegetarian and nutritionally-designed diet perfect for their bodies."
The sheep and cows at Heritage Prime’s farm in Dorchester graze outside most of the year but when they do come inside are given top quality meadow hay – not the silage or barley commonly used on other farms.
"Our pigs get a seasonal diet which includes nettles, oats and fresh fruit. We have developed this diet over the course of many years – any scientists or farmers are welcome to visit us and find out how it works."
