Cowed : the hidden impact of 93 million cows on America's health, economy, politics, culture, and environment / Denis Hayes and Gail Boyer Hayes.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction : setting out -- Bewitched by cows -- Whoa! cows' big bite -- Hoofprints on your tablecloth -- Lagoon blues -- Got milked? -- Don't have a cow burger -- Cannibal cows -- Why buy organic beef and dairy? -- Cowboys vs. astronauts -- Don't be cruel -- Afterword : the tail end of an era.

As a source of labor and food, cows were integral to the settlement of the American frontier, and they have placed an indelible stamp on American culture, politics, and economics. InCowed, Denis and Gail Boyer Hayes offer a nuanced look at our centuries-long relationship with this animal how cows helped us tame the wild American landscape and how their outsized influence on soil and air quality today threatens plant and animal populations and endangers our own well-being. The current national herd of 93 million cows is wasteful and unsustainable and poses a threat to our environment and health. To produce one calorie of beef protein requires 40 calories of energy energy that could be used to light homes, transport water, or grow crops. Written by two lifelong advocates of sustainable living, Cowed explores the alarming effects of our dependence on cows, and it proposes practical ways to improve our health while protecting the environment.