Cattle: An Informal Social History

As a veterinarian, amateur historian and life long boviphile i am always interested in literature about cattle. This book is a nice addition to my short shelf of books on the subject. It is part science, part history and part philosophy, in the style of Michael Pollans books The Botany of Desire or The Omnivores Dilemma. The author seems not to be a farmer or zoologist but she has done a lot of research I think and she offers some interesting philosophical insights.

For a sociology/history book, this book is amazingly readable. Although it does not hold itself out to be a treatise, it is filled with well-documented facts, and the book's endnotes and references provide a wealth of material for those seeking further academic materials. It was published before the case of Mad Cow disease was found in the United States in December 2003, but it contains a very informative discussion of BSE and discusses the outbreaks in Great Britain and Europe. It presents a balanced view of the commercial cattle industry in the U.S., addressing both its problems and benefits, without advocating positions or taking sides. I bought extra copies to give to my cattle grower friends, including those who are trying to raise grass-fed cattle to supply the growing demand for grass-fed beef and dairy products raised without growth hormones, antibiotics, or stimulants.