Editing Meat (section)

=== Animal nutrition ===

The quality and quantity of usable meat depends on the animal's ''plane of nutrition'', i.e., whether it is over- or underfed. Scientists disagree about how exactly the plane of nutrition influences carcase composition.{{sfn|Lawrie|Ledward|2006|pp=25–30}}

The composition of the diet, especially the amount of protein provided, is an important factor regulating animal growth. [[Ruminant]]s, which may digest [[cellulose]], are better adapted to poor-quality diets, but their ruminal microorganisms degrade high-quality protein if supplied in excess. Because producing high-quality protein animal feed is expensive, several techniques are employed or experimented with to ensure maximum utilization of protein. These include the treatment of feed with [[Formaldehyde|formalin]] to protect [[amino acid]]s during their passage through the [[rumen]], the recycling of [[manure]] by feeding it back to cattle mixed with feed concentrates, or the conversion of petroleum [[hydrocarbon]]s to protein through microbial action.{{sfn|Lawrie|Ledward|2006|pp=25–30}}

In plant feed, environmental factors influence the availability of crucial [[nutrient]]s or [[micronutrient]]s, a lack or excess of which can cause a great many ailments. In Australia, where the soil contains limited [[phosphate]], cattle are fed additional phosphate to increase the efficiency of beef production. Also in Australia, cattle and sheep in certain areas were often found losing their appetite and dying in the midst of rich pasture; this was found to be a result of [[cobalt]] deficiency in the soil. Plant [[toxin]]s are a risk to grazing animals; for instance, [[sodium fluoroacetate]], found in some African and Australian plants, kills by disrupting the [[cellular metabolism]]. Some man-made [[pollutant]]s such as [[methylmercury]] and some [[pesticide]] residues present a particular hazard as they [[Bioaccumulation|bioaccumulate]] in meat, potentially poisoning consumers.{{sfn|Lawrie|Ledward|2006|pp=25–30}}