Most feed given to livestock consists of byproducts unfit for human consumption
the verdict
REFUTED
the evidence says no
confidence 17/100
Evidence shows that a significant portion of livestock feed consists of human-edible crops like cereals rather than byproducts, refuting the claim.
Evidence against · 4
Losses, inefficiencies and waste in the global food system
2017 · cited by 525
States that roughly one-third of total cereal production is currently used in animal feed, meaning a substantial portion of feed consists of human-edible grains rather than byproducts.
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More against · 3
Defining a land boundary for sustainable livestock consumption
2018 · cited by 405
Discusses livestock eating human-edible biomass like grains, noting that circular systems would reduce this competition, which implies it is not currently the majority practice.
Impacts of feeding less food-competing feedstuffs to livestock on global food system sustainability
2015 · cited by 359
Explores scenarios where animals are fed only grassland and byproducts, demonstrating that this is a departure from current practices where livestock consume significant human-edible concentrate feeds.
Review: Feed demand landscape and implications of food-not feed strategy for food security and climate change
2017 · cited by 266
Notes that approximately one-third of global cereal production is used as animal feed, contradicting the idea that most feed is already unfit for human consumption.