# Vat Grown beef? Why Not Vat Grown Lobster, Crab? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vat-grown-beef-why-not-vat-grown-lobster-crab/740067 "2015-12-10T13:56:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vat-grown-beef-why-not-vat-grown-lobster-crab/740067/21 "2015-12-13T16:32:58Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > If they are exposed to fire they go nuts and start attacking villagers. Yes, but with tridents instead of pitchforks. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vat-grown-beef-why-not-vat-grown-lobster-crab/740067/22 "2015-12-13T17:01:02Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Raising billions of cattle on grains is energy intensive and bad for the environment. > > Raising a few head of cattle on ample pasture is not - but would be expensive and not nearly meet the current demand. > > Vat-growing beef may or may not be less expensive, or less energy intensive, than raising animals. We won’t know for sure until we actually do it. The thing is, cattle is normally grown on ample pasture. I live in Missouri, and most of my neighbors are cattle ranchers. You want 2-3 acres per cow, and those ranches look damn near idyllic. The cows, which are valuable creatures, are sleek and fat and healthy, roaming around with their calves in huge pastures. It’s true that for the last month or so of their lives, they usually are sold to a feedlot for further fattening, but they have at least a couple of good years being pampered cows on the range. I’m pretty comfortable with the way we grow beef in these parts. Factory farmed pigs and laying hens concern me more. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vat-grown-beef-why-not-vat-grown-lobster-crab/740067/23 "2015-12-13T17:01:54Z")
In the not too distant future I see eco friendly non human powered bikes. Powered by cylinders containing frankenmusle. Every couple of months you’ll swap out cylinders and have a really nice meal. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vat-grown-beef-why-not-vat-grown-lobster-crab/740067/24 "2015-12-13T17:26:07Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > The thing is, cattle is normally grown on ample pasture. I live in Missouri, and most of my neighbors are cattle ranchers. You want 2-3 acres per cow, and those ranches look damn near idyllic. The cows, which are valuable creatures, are sleek and fat and healthy, roaming around with their calves in huge pastures. It’s true that for the last month or so of their lives, they usually are sold to a feedlot for further fattening, but they have at least a couple of good years being pampered cows on the range. I’m pretty comfortable with the way we grow beef in these parts. Couple of good years? American industrial beef steers, these days, get six or eight months on the range, and go to slaughter around 14-16 months, counting their time in the CAFO. Which is not healthful or idyllic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vat-grown-beef-why-not-vat-grown-lobster-crab/740067.md?page=1)