Happy Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day, a UC Davis Cooperative Extension veterinary specialist, John Maas, sent a letter to the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle asking the public to remember the "original environmentalists," cattle ranchers.

"California's ranchers manage more than 20 million acres of private land. They pay taxes, raise cattle, and protect wildlife in a sustainable manner. These are the green hills and mountain meadows you drive by on your travels," Maas wrote.

Maas notes that cattle are net re-cyclers of carbon dioxide and, according to research, are a negligible source of greenhouse gases.

To see Maas' letter, scroll down on the letters page, linked above.

Read more