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Cattle: An Informal Social History
We force them into crowded, sedentary lives. We harvest their eggs and artificially inseminate them. We fill them with hormones and antibiotics, and we feed them manufactured pellets instead of the food they were meant to eat. They are commercialized and scientized―in many ways, just like us. Laurie Winn Carlson's intriguing book examines in fascinating detail the relationship between people and domesticated cattle, a resource that has been vital to civilization but long ignored and neglected. She considers the impact of science, technology, and economics on cattle, and how they in turn have influenced human history. Drawing on a wide range of sources, she shows how cattle have been worshipped in some cultures and become a symbol of pastoral freedom in others; what links them to women and the family; how the beef and dairy industries developed in Europe and the New World; how butter influenced the Protestant Reformation; how the cattle cultures helped settle North America; how meat became industrialized and margarine appeared as the first plastic food; and how science today continues to transform the lives of cattle and their connection to human beings. "With our problematic technology," Ms. Carlson writes, "beef―and milk―is now a food that engages plenty of concern, conflict, and fear. We are absolutely dependent upon cattle. We just don't realize how imperative it is that we protect them from further genetic and biologic degradation." Her book is serious social history spiced with rich anecdotes and surprising historical facts. With developing concern world-wide about livestock disease, Cattle could not be more timely.
334 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 9, 2014
If you love history as I do, then you will often find yourself picking up strange books against your better judgment that would normally seem to hold no real interest to you, or seemingly most others for that matter. I remember laughing to myself inwardly when I bought this book and questioning as to just how much interest I could possibly hold over something as mundane and commonplace as a cow. At the time, it appealed more to my perverse side of things, or the ironic hipster, if you will. It was sort of like buying a SPAM t-shirt for my bookshelves. However, it turns out that although my reasoning for picking this book up was whimsically guided it is actually a fantastic and highly relevant book that I think everyone will enjoy reading.
Quite often things that we see everyday are taken so much for granted that there can often be an incredible story hiding right in front of our very noses. I do not live on a ranch nor do I know anyone who has ever owned a cow but most of us are really not that far from them no matter where you live. Here in California, all one has to do is drive more than a hundred miles in any direction and you are guaranteed to come across a landscape full of them. At such times, one tends to roll up the windows and drive a little faster but rarely do we give much thought other than putting some distance between you and them. This book not only makes you come to a dead stop but actually get out of the car and wander amongst them willingly.
Of course, as a history nerd I was aware of the significance of domesticating livestock for civilization. Primarily, by living in close quarters with them this was not only beneficial for their providing various forms of food, clothing and other numerous uses but also directly exposed us to viruses in lesser forms that helped boost our immune systems. However, beyond these highly relevant and important facts I could not for the life of me think for a moment that there was much else they were good for. It turns out this is merely scratching the surface of their significance to our way of life and society as a whole.
The twists and turns that this book takes along its “informal history” are as many as it is likewise diverse. In tracing the origins of any related factors concerning the cow certain by roads and back stories are taken and told that seem to leave the main subject so far behind at times that one might close the book and look again at its cover to reassure oneself that you are in fact reading a book about cattle. The scope of these apparent digressions from the topic encompass nearly everything on the planet from the legal system, politics, genetics, medicine, women’s rights, religion and naturally enough, health and diet. Oprah Winfrey even makes a significant appearance here! All of which, the reader is made to understand in a clear and entertainingly well written manner is all related to the influence of the mighty and noble cow!
The most noteworthy chapter for me was the one on the pseudo science of eugenics, which directly comes from the combined efforts of the breeding of cattle by an English farmer named Robert Bakewell in the 1700s and the theories of Charles Darwin’s half cousin Francis Galton. In Bakewell’s attempts to breed a more substantial cow that produced more meat of an easily digestible quality he stumbled upon a certain quirk of genetics that much later lead to some other “scientists” to cite his experiments as being applicable to the human race through a rather unfortunate and distorted lens of racial purity. Bakewell took wide varieties of breeds of cattle and bred them in ways no practical farmer would have ever thought of. The best analogy as to his method is to think of a dog breeder taking German Shepherds and crossing them with Chihuahuas, then taking Saint Bernard’s and crossing them with Afghans and then taking the offspring of those two sets and breeding them together, and so on exponentially.
In the end, without fail this experiment with cattle and their various respective breeds consistently created an ancient throwback of a beast that more resembled a yak than a cow that also behaved rather prehistoric and wild as well. The domesticity of generations of selective breeding in cattle was somehow reversed through all of this mixing of these breeds. Encouraged by the well intentioned work of Darwin’s cousin towards eliminating unwanted and undesirable traits for the betterment of mankind, largely diseases and disabilities, this experiment of Bakewell’s was taken by a fringe group as proof positive that if the same were done with the human race the result would be a reversion to our Neanderthal roots. Xenophobic concerns desperately latched onto this to show that their deep rooted fears of mixing the human race between the ethnic color lines in a similar manner was not just based on racial hatred but sound science.
They were incredibly and horribly wrong on this point for selective breeding in humans causes far more defects than anything else as well as potentially threatens the inherent traits present in the diversity of our genes. These “undesirable” strains poised to be eliminated by this philosophy could very well prove to be useful at a later date in combating certain diseases yet to even evolve. We have no idea as to what most of the DNA in our bodies is really for and tinkering with this aspect of our lives could very well spell our doom if we aren’t careful.
Although this topic was somewhat familiar to me, I had never really understood the history behind it and this book allowed me to discover this without having to immerse myself into a despicable branch of study. There were even more revelations found here that were equally fascinating, as well as disturbing. Published in 2001, this book is slightly outdated on some points but overall has aged well. It ends with the plea for treating our cattle humanely, for their betterment as well as our own, by dispensing with all of the antibiotics and growth hormones then in use. Some headway in this has gained traction in the public consciousness but there is still a long way to go in alleviating some of the more questionable practices in the meat industry and unfortunately on this particular point the book is as current as the day it came out. All in all, this is a highly relevant, entertaining and fascinating read! Highly recommended!
Quite often things that we see everyday are taken so much for granted that there can often be an incredible story hiding right in front of our very noses. I do not live on a ranch nor do I know anyone who has ever owned a cow but most of us are really not that far from them no matter where you live. Here in California, all one has to do is drive more than a hundred miles in any direction and you are guaranteed to come across a landscape full of them. At such times, one tends to roll up the windows and drive a little faster but rarely do we give much thought other than putting some distance between you and them. This book not only makes you come to a dead stop but actually get out of the car and wander amongst them willingly.
Of course, as a history nerd I was aware of the significance of domesticating livestock for civilization. Primarily, by living in close quarters with them this was not only beneficial for their providing various forms of food, clothing and other numerous uses but also directly exposed us to viruses in lesser forms that helped boost our immune systems. However, beyond these highly relevant and important facts I could not for the life of me think for a moment that there was much else they were good for. It turns out this is merely scratching the surface of their significance to our way of life and society as a whole.
The twists and turns that this book takes along its “informal history” are as many as it is likewise diverse. In tracing the origins of any related factors concerning the cow certain by roads and back stories are taken and told that seem to leave the main subject so far behind at times that one might close the book and look again at its cover to reassure oneself that you are in fact reading a book about cattle. The scope of these apparent digressions from the topic encompass nearly everything on the planet from the legal system, politics, genetics, medicine, women’s rights, religion and naturally enough, health and diet. Oprah Winfrey even makes a significant appearance here! All of which, the reader is made to understand in a clear and entertainingly well written manner is all related to the influence of the mighty and noble cow!
The most noteworthy chapter for me was the one on the pseudo science of eugenics, which directly comes from the combined efforts of the breeding of cattle by an English farmer named Robert Bakewell in the 1700s and the theories of Charles Darwin’s half cousin Francis Galton. In Bakewell’s attempts to breed a more substantial cow that produced more meat of an easily digestible quality he stumbled upon a certain quirk of genetics that much later lead to some other “scientists” to cite his experiments as being applicable to the human race through a rather unfortunate and distorted lens of racial purity. Bakewell took wide varieties of breeds of cattle and bred them in ways no practical farmer would have ever thought of. The best analogy as to his method is to think of a dog breeder taking German Shepherds and crossing them with Chihuahuas, then taking Saint Bernard’s and crossing them with Afghans and then taking the offspring of those two sets and breeding them together, and so on exponentially.
In the end, without fail this experiment with cattle and their various respective breeds consistently created an ancient throwback of a beast that more resembled a yak than a cow that also behaved rather prehistoric and wild as well. The domesticity of generations of selective breeding in cattle was somehow reversed through all of this mixing of these breeds. Encouraged by the well intentioned work of Darwin’s cousin towards eliminating unwanted and undesirable traits for the betterment of mankind, largely diseases and disabilities, this experiment of Bakewell’s was taken by a fringe group as proof positive that if the same were done with the human race the result would be a reversion to our Neanderthal roots. Xenophobic concerns desperately latched onto this to show that their deep rooted fears of mixing the human race between the ethnic color lines in a similar manner was not just based on racial hatred but sound science.
They were incredibly and horribly wrong on this point for selective breeding in humans causes far more defects than anything else as well as potentially threatens the inherent traits present in the diversity of our genes. These “undesirable” strains poised to be eliminated by this philosophy could very well prove to be useful at a later date in combating certain diseases yet to even evolve. We have no idea as to what most of the DNA in our bodies is really for and tinkering with this aspect of our lives could very well spell our doom if we aren’t careful.
Although this topic was somewhat familiar to me, I had never really understood the history behind it and this book allowed me to discover this without having to immerse myself into a despicable branch of study. There were even more revelations found here that were equally fascinating, as well as disturbing. Published in 2001, this book is slightly outdated on some points but overall has aged well. It ends with the plea for treating our cattle humanely, for their betterment as well as our own, by dispensing with all of the antibiotics and growth hormones then in use. Some headway in this has gained traction in the public consciousness but there is still a long way to go in alleviating some of the more questionable practices in the meat industry and unfortunately on this particular point the book is as current as the day it came out. All in all, this is a highly relevant, entertaining and fascinating read! Highly recommended!
December 30, 2023
Good popular history, well-written, and lots of interesting stories (especially about butter).
YUM
However, the author falls into the "Jordan" trap of minimizing, even erasing, the Spanish-Mexican origins of US cattle culture. C'mon! Who uses a "cowpen"? You hold your animals in a "corral"!
DUH
The Scots-Irish contribution to cattle culture is, well, overstated, as is those "groups" contributions to larger American heritage.
GET OUT
YUM
However, the author falls into the "Jordan" trap of minimizing, even erasing, the Spanish-Mexican origins of US cattle culture. C'mon! Who uses a "cowpen"? You hold your animals in a "corral"!
DUH
The Scots-Irish contribution to cattle culture is, well, overstated, as is those "groups" contributions to larger American heritage.
GET OUT
November 21, 2015
Consider...the cow. A humble creature, its dopey expression reveals no vast intelligence, and its barrel of a body gives it virtually no athletic ability, but it is remarkable if nothing else for its extensive influence on the human race. Throughout our long history with cattle, we have used them for much more than food -- and they have used us, in turn. Laurie Winn Carlson holds cattle in high esteem, and her history of cows and people is rich and wide-ranging, if sometimes romanticized.
Although most people would associate cows with beef, or food in general (dairy milk being the source of cheese and butter), the various kinds of domesticated cattle have also served as labor and medical factories; the first vaccines were taken from the lymph of cows, and are named in tribute of the cow, the Latin for which is vacca. Although it's nice of the cows to give us a cure for smallpox, it's the least they could do considering the disease migrated from them in the first place. The story of cows and people is one of give and take, each side contributing to and detracting from the other's well-being, but until recently it has been a mutually advantageous alliance. Since the industrial era, however, the relationship has become decidedly exploitative, with cattle being reduced from beings that we related to into machines that we create, use, and discard at our own convenience. People have become detached in general from the sources of our food, but Carlson is especially concerned about the marginalization of cattle.
Although Carlson sometimes gets carried away in her devotion to cows , as in early on when she attributes the development of law to the complexities of life arising from keeping cattle, Cattle is a fascinating book in part because of how much ground it covers, addressing anthropology, evolution, economics, medicine, and food just for starters, with the main course being history. There are definite weaknesses (repeating "facts" that should have been scrutinized more) and some curious omissions (nothing is mentioned of CAFO feedlots), but this is a unique book. Other books I’ve looked at cover only the food aspect of cattle culture, not their role in the everyday life of pre-industrial people. Cattle isn't a beefsteak of a book, but it's a good burger at least.
Although most people would associate cows with beef, or food in general (dairy milk being the source of cheese and butter), the various kinds of domesticated cattle have also served as labor and medical factories; the first vaccines were taken from the lymph of cows, and are named in tribute of the cow, the Latin for which is vacca. Although it's nice of the cows to give us a cure for smallpox, it's the least they could do considering the disease migrated from them in the first place. The story of cows and people is one of give and take, each side contributing to and detracting from the other's well-being, but until recently it has been a mutually advantageous alliance. Since the industrial era, however, the relationship has become decidedly exploitative, with cattle being reduced from beings that we related to into machines that we create, use, and discard at our own convenience. People have become detached in general from the sources of our food, but Carlson is especially concerned about the marginalization of cattle.
Although Carlson sometimes gets carried away in her devotion to cows , as in early on when she attributes the development of law to the complexities of life arising from keeping cattle, Cattle is a fascinating book in part because of how much ground it covers, addressing anthropology, evolution, economics, medicine, and food just for starters, with the main course being history. There are definite weaknesses (repeating "facts" that should have been scrutinized more) and some curious omissions (nothing is mentioned of CAFO feedlots), but this is a unique book. Other books I’ve looked at cover only the food aspect of cattle culture, not their role in the everyday life of pre-industrial people. Cattle isn't a beefsteak of a book, but it's a good burger at least.
July 15, 2015
If the fact that I found a book on the social history of cattle completely engaging means I'm dead boring then I'll just have to own up to it.
While some of the scientific facts may be a little dated, due to the fact that it was written 13 years ago,I've learned so much from this book.
I had no idea that the prehistoric Aurochs had been regenerated and is now living again in the wild in Europe, I know a lot more now about the causes of Mad Cow Disease (not necessarily what you might think) and am much more informed on the shared history of women and dairying. And I now know where the US band Grand Funk Railroad got it's name.
This book will interest anyone who has even a vague interest in cattle and anyone who cares about their food. I've already got a list of cattle people who want to borrow my copy.
A great read.
While some of the scientific facts may be a little dated, due to the fact that it was written 13 years ago,I've learned so much from this book.
I had no idea that the prehistoric Aurochs had been regenerated and is now living again in the wild in Europe, I know a lot more now about the causes of Mad Cow Disease (not necessarily what you might think) and am much more informed on the shared history of women and dairying. And I now know where the US band Grand Funk Railroad got it's name.
This book will interest anyone who has even a vague interest in cattle and anyone who cares about their food. I've already got a list of cattle people who want to borrow my copy.
A great read.
May 27, 2015
This book had an interesting story about how the Protestant Reformation was a fight over butter. The pope banned eating butter during fasts like Lent. The countries that had to import olive oil during these times left the church. The countries that used olive oil primarily stayed Catholic. The Pope sold indulgences to those who were going to eat butter anyways and this led Martin Luther to confront the church. The book recounts the history of margarine and the industrialization of beef. It has a chapter on dairy cows and the use of milk for "hand feeding" human babies but does not really discuss the raw milk dilemma. The Hudson Bay Co wanted to have a monopoly on the fur trade and didn't allow women or dairy cows out west. When women and their cows came west, British hold on the west waned. The western territories joined the union of United States.
April 5, 2016
Lots of interesting stories, decent writing, and good analysis of a few issues, including vaccinations, diseases, and breeding. Some chapters' function seems to be mostly a defense of eating meat and rest on shoddy nutritional science. My favorite is the long disproven notion that precolombian peoples in the Americans sometimes practiced cannibalism because they couldn't get adequate protein without livestock, which has been disproven many times over and frankly sounds ridiculous. So, it's a decent book, but some chapters are much more worth reading than others.
Read
December 22, 2009I couldn't get into it. The writing style is smooth, but I just wasn't ready for what was turning into a rather philosophical discussion about the connection between humans and cattle. I'm not rating this book poorly because I think I what I really wanted to do when I picked it up was watch a chick-flick on tv instead.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews