Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows (though technically cow refers only to female bovines), are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. They are raised as livestock for meat (called beef and veal), dairy products (milk), leather and as draught animals (pulling carts, plows and the like). In some countries, such as India, they are honored in religious ceremonies and revered. It is estimated that there are 1.3 billion cattle in the world today.

Beef cattle browse more than 11 million acres of grazing lands in the State of Florida. Such large herds naturally generate large quantities of manure and other waste. What is being done to manage this challenge to the environment?

Researchers at Kansas State University are investigating an apparent link between cattle fed distiller’s grain and increasing instances of E. coli tainted beef.

Evidence has surfaced suggesting that Americans and others are probably already eating meat from the offspring of clones. Executives from the nation's major cattle cloning companies conceded yesterday that they have not been able to keep track of how many offspring of clones have entered the food supply, despite a years-old request by the FDA.

We should all ask ourselves this question. Do we really want to continue to eat animals, or will their cloned body parts satisfy us? While looking an animal in the eye, I wonder how many of us could really do what is necessary to provide that meat.

A long-awaited final report from the Food and Drug Administration concludes that foods from healthy cloned animals and their offspring are as safe as those from ordinary animals, effectively removing the last U.S. regulatory barrier to marketing meat and milk from cloned cattle, pigs and goats.Where's the beef? Over there in the Petri dish!