As we finish the month of May and celebrating beef here are six fun facts and beef and beef cattle.

1. Beef is healthy as it is rich in protein to provide energy and help build muscle. Which is great for athletes, growing children and anyone on the go.

2. Beef production is sustainable as it only accounts for 3.3 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. 

3. Beef production is useful as more the 99 percent of the animal is used. 65% goes toward meat production and the other 34% goes toward byproducts like leather, gelatin, cosmetics, and medicines. 

4. Beef is popular as Americans eat an average of 55 pounds of beef per person, per year. It’s the second-most popular meat in America, after chicken.

5. Beef cattle have fascinating senses because they have a panoramic vision and can see about 330 degree around them. However, they don’t have very good depth perception and they can’t see the color red. (Red bullfighting capes are for drama. The bulls respond more to the movement.) Cattle have a great sense of smell and can detect odors up to six miles away. They’re also equipped with about 25,000 taste buds. (Humans have about 10,000.)

6. Beef cattle have interesting habits. Cattle are great swimmers and have successfully forded rivers. However, they’re not great sleepers. They only sleep about four hours a day, although you wouldn’t know that by looking at them, because they can spend up to 12 hours a day lying down.

As you can see, there’s plenty to appreciate when it comes to beef. We’re thankful for the Kansas ranchers who care for their cattle and help bring so much to our tables (and clothes, health care and so much more). So, celebrate beef and the people who raise it!

Alicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. Contact her by email at aboor@ksu.eduor call 620-793-1910.