When you think of cattle what do you think of? Most might say something along the lines of steak or hamburger, but have you ever thought about the everyday products that may use some other less obvious parts of the beef animal? By-products are secondary items that are produced in addition to the main product. For as long as humans have used animals as a food source, their by-products have been just as important. For cattle-the obvious main product is meat, but cattle provide numerous byproducts that we use daily. Through manufacturing processes, parts of the animals such as the hide, bones, hair, and fatty acids can be made into important industrial, household and health products. In fact, 99% of the beef animal is utilized!
Listed below are some ways that cattle really do touch each of us on a daily basis.
Household Goods
Household goods made from parts of the beef cattle we don’t usually eat but are an important part of everyday life. How many of these products do you use daily?
From Fats/Fatty Acids and Protein Meals
Candles
Linoleum
Shoe Cream
Cellophane
Mouthwash
Shaving Cream
Ceramics
Detergents
Soaps
Cosmetics
Synthetic Rubber
Pet Foods
Crayons
Floor Wax
Deodorants
Perfumes
Toothpaste
Insecticides
Paints
Paper
From Gelatin
Photographic Film
Jello
Marshmallows
Nail polish
From the Hoof/bones
Buttons
Piano keys
From the Hide
Purses and wallets
Shoes
Luggage
Clothing
Sporting goods
From the Hair
Paint brushes
Insulation
Air filters
Did you know one cowhide can produce 12 basketballs OR 144 baseballs OR 20 footballs OR 18 volleyballs OR 18 soccer balls OR 12 baseball gloves?
From Collagen Based Adhesives
Wallpaper
Sheetrock
Glues
Pharmaceutical Products
Animal tissue and organs are known as rich sources of biochemicals, some of which are of medicinal importance.
From the Pancreas
Insulin – for treating diabetes and high blood sugar – It takes 26 cows to provide enough insulin to keep one diabetic person alive for a year.
Chymotrypsin – promotes healing of burns and wounds
Pancreatin – aids in digestion of food
Glucagon – treats hypoglycemia or low blood sugar
From the Adrenal Glands
Allergy medicines
From the Pituitary Gland
Prolactin– promotes lactation
Pressor Hormone– regulates blood pressure
Vasopressin– controls intestinal and renal functions
Adrenocorticotropic hormone– treatment of arthritis and allergies
From the Blood
Blood Factors – for treating hemophilia, killing viruses, making anti-rejection drugs
Iron – treatment of anemia
Thrombin – coagulant that helps blood clot
Kelsey Phillips is a sixth-generation rancher with roots in the Sandhills area. She grew up northeast of Mullen. Kelsey is currently a sophomore at Northwest Missouri State University majoring in Animal Science. She will be transferring to UNL next fall to complete her degree and looks forward to being an advocate for the agricultural industry and share her passion!
// Farm Meets Fork 