"Traditional breeds of cattle, developed over centuries to thrive on grass based systems, and on less productive land are making a comeback, not least the Galloway breeds. Utilising poor and unploughable soils, often in areas of extreme weather, has long been an accepted niche for the ancient Galloway breeds of cattle."

Hear, hear! My father, who was a livestock veterinarian in central Alberta, kept several hundred Charolais and Hereford on the side as a pure rangeland operation, with supplemental hay in the winter but no grain feeding. He always called feedlots, where 90% of your beef comes from, as factories.

I consider that ethanol as a fuel is a boondoggle but support it because it raised the price of grain. Currently, grain is so heavily subsidized that feedlot operators can produce beef cheaper than ranchers. Most people don't know that mass feedlot production is only about 50 years old, and relies heavily on cheap grain and cheap diesel. Peak Oil isn't all bad; it will help to shut down dysfunctional businesses like feedlots.