WHO WE ARE: But what if the beetroots <em><u>are</u></em> the aliens? | Who We Are

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

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WHO WE ARE: But what if the beetroots are the aliens?

To discuss if there is too much Australian content on television, go to The Tribal Mind
For regular updates on Australian attitudes, bookmark http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

A column about Australia by David Dale, published in The Sun-Herald, 5/10/2008
The greening guru Ross Garnaut faces an uphill battle when he urges Australians to eat more kangaroo and less beef, for the sake of the environment and their health. Cattle tread heavily on the landscape, their meat gives us heart attacks and their poo produces greenhouse gases and a breeding ground for flies. Kangaroos tread lightly and their meat is low in fat and high in iron.

The logic is impeccable, but Australians aren't listening. It's not that they don't like the taste of roo. They won't even try it. Apparently they suffer a Skippy complex -- a reluctance, ingrained since childhood, to eat a cuddly creature who can articulate complex thoughts in a vocabulary of clicks and operate machinery with paws that lack opposable thumbs.

Every good waiter and every good parent knows that any dish tastes better when it comes with a story, so it's time for me to discuss once again a theory that might help sell roo meat to the masses. It is based on the discovery that grilled kangaroo with pureed beetroot is a marriage made in heaven - a natural and inevitable culinary combination like fish and chips, duck and orange, bangers and mash, and pie and sauce.

The master of this dish was a chef named Raymond Kersh, who ran a Sydney restaurant called Edna's Table with his sister Jennice. For 20 years they struggled to persuade Australians to eat local ingredients - not just kangaroo but an array of fruits, herbs and vegetables that sustained this country's population for 60,000 years before the arrival of the cow, the potato and the orange. Visitors loved their menu, but locals stayed away.

Edna's Table finally closed in 2005. Making her farewells, Jennice Kersh said: "We're not interested in being just a tourist gimmick. We think eating your own food is part of your sense of place. Most Australians still don't have that sense of belonging."

The mystery remains: why do kangaroo and beetroot work so well together, when one originated in the south Pacific and the other in the Mediterranean? I think the perfection of this duet is evidence of an alien visitation millions of years ago. The masters of the universe came here, inserted kangaroo at one end of the planet and beetroot at the other, then went off to await the evolution of a creature smart enough to join them together.

A couple of hundred years ago the Europeans developed the technology to carry the beetroot southwards. The first time a chef put it on a plate with a fillet of kangaroo, it closed a circuit in the space time continuum and sent a message across the stars which said "We are ready!" Even as you read this, the aliens are on their way back to invite us to join the galactic federation.

If we are not chewing on roo when they get here, there'll be big trouble. After that long a journey, they won't react kindly to a race that blew its big opportunity.

Give us your theories on how Skippy might save the planet at Comments ...

David Dale is the author of Who We Are -- A snapshot of Australia today (Allen and Unwin). To discuss Australian attitudes, go to http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

COMMENTS

Try the roo pizza at the Australian Hotel in the Rocks. It'll put a spring in your step.

by doubleoh2 on October 05, 2008 at 12:07 AM

I used to have an issue with the idea of eating Skippy too. But then I started to think about how many cute cows, cuddly lambs and fluffy chickens I'd eaten over the years, and about the brutal conditions these poor farmed animals were brought up in as well as the environmental cost of them on the fragile Australian ecosystem.
So I flirted with vegetarianism for a few years but abandoned it after I came down with aneamia several times which convinced me I was designed to be an omnivore and I obviously needed red meat to survive. And then I visited the Red Kangaroo Thai restuarant in Newtown and was brave enough to try their Red Curry Roo. It was delicious and inspiring. So I bought some at a local specialty butcher and discovered kangaroo is great to stir fry, great on the BBQ and great in a slow cooked winter stew. Best of all it's good for my heart, my waistline and for the land. I'm a total fan!

by Kate on October 05, 2008 at 04:06 AM

Skippy won't save the planet -but humans can! Intelligent humans will recognize that the best way to help save the planet is simply by avoiding meat. Surely we're not so addicted to the taste of flesh that if we can't eat one animal we have to find some other poor, innocent creature to massacre.

by Mary on October 05, 2008 at 05:01 AM

The only problem with your otherwise brilliant theory is that kangaroo and beetroot don't go well together - beetroot is not food, it should be banned as toxic garbage. Putting beetroot on hamburgers (or anything else) is one of the greatest crimes against food Australia has ever committed. Roo meat on the other hand is bloody fantastic and I have no idea why more Australians don't eat it. I love it and eat it whenever possible, unfortunately it's only available at a relatively few eateries and is usually quite expensive. Force McDonalds and other fast food outlets to serve it instead of their so-called "beef" patties would probably help roo's acceptance, their customer's health and their bottom lines.

by David S. on October 05, 2008 at 05:11 AM

Try becoming vegans - as nature intended us to be (look at our nearest relative, the Bonobo. These are gentle vegan creatures who somewhat interestingly lead social lives where swapping sexual favours is the key to diplomacy). Not only will you experience vastly better health but you'll be doing the planet a huge favour - no more land clearing or destruction of the ocean's foodchain - and save millions of our fellow creatures from suffering.

by Bonobo's daughter on October 05, 2008 at 06:16 AM

Why don't we just start farming our cats and dogs in the backyard, whales seem to have alot of meat on them, dolphins too.
Honestly though how can we sustain our opposition to whaling while we(the media mainly) are pushing the public towards eating kangaroo?

DD replies: The kind of roos we are eating are not an endangered species. The whales are.

by Paul on October 05, 2008 at 07:02 AM

Roo showed up at our local supermarket and despite my girl friends protests, being a bodybuilder, its the best protein low fat meat I can eat...just got the grilling right last week..best I've cooked so far!

by vincent on October 05, 2008 at 07:05 AM

no roo for me. how do you think people will treat the roo if they know it's going to make them money. It will be a roo-shoot-em-up, just as bad if not worse than the way cows and chickens are treated because of the lack of standards.

by noroonobull on October 05, 2008 at 07:22 AM

Firstly, it would be a good idea to do some research on the relationship between the cattle industry and beef consumption initially in the Western world and then followed up by many other countries. In my books once you introduce a product, advertise it and promoted as the in thing to do and eat, then and unless governments put some controls and weight the pros and cons of any product, it would be almost impossible as the case is now to change people's mind about it. I am looking forward to see a McKangaroo around Australia besides the other Mc.

by mario janas on October 05, 2008 at 07:30 AM

I buy kangaroo mince, BBQ steak and stir fry strips rather than beef from my local Woolies in Marrickville. It tastes better, has lower fat and it is also cheaper than beef.
My partner, who is French prefers it over beef and says Europeans love the taste of kangaroo too. He can't understand Australians not eating it more.
Australia culls thousands of kangaroos each year. A lot of the culling is to "protect" the land for beef, lamb and mutton production which uses more resources per kg than kangaroos do by far.
Kangaroos have natural resistance to parasites and disease that sheep and cattle don't have. Sheep and cattle need chemicals and innoculations that adds to the cost of raising them and who knows what proportion of those chemicals find their way into the food chain.
Come on Aussies, get into your Roo Lasagne, Roo Chow Mein, Pho Roo, Roo au Vin, Roo Shanks and Mash, McRoo, Roo and Mushroom Pies. Write Roo recipe books. Throw another Roo Tail on the Barbie.

by David H on October 05, 2008 at 07:47 AM

my wife and I are both Roo meat fans. We don't have to buy it at a specialty butchers because it is available at Coles outlets as tenderloins (great for the BBQ or in stews, curries etc), mince (make the best hamburger patties with it or use it to make bolognaise, chilli or anything else) and in sausage form (although these were dry). Roo meat should be the only red meat cultivated in Australia.
As for the assertations that we should be vegetarians or, even worse, vegans 'as nature intended' we will wait until evolution declares our canines useless.

by Dynamaso on October 05, 2008 at 08:03 AM

But what would we do for a mixed grill? Koalas and wombats aren't plentiful enough and flying fox is too much effort to get a feed off. Emu is a possibility but it needs something more. How about some distraught vegans? We get good food and reduce suffering at the same time

by Peril on October 05, 2008 at 08:10 AM

How to make Australians eat kangaroo?
Take it off the coat off arms.

by IanB on October 05, 2008 at 08:11 AM

In my household we eat roo every couple of weeks. Yes, its a gamey flavour that won't appeal to those who prefer the blandness of supermarket beef cooked to leather toughness.
Both the rump and fillet make great steaks. Cook it hot and quick - medium rare at the most, with a liittle bit of salt and pepper. Let it rest for 5 and serve with wholegrain mustard, freshly roasted beetroot and mixed green leaves.
The mince works great in mexican food where it cuts through the spice. Similarly, roo and sweet potato is a great combination for a curry.

by Matt on October 05, 2008 at 08:23 AM

Roo is cheap, tasty, good for you and better for the environment. I really think that the reluctance that people show towards eating it is a symptom of how divorced they are from the reality of our existence. The same people probably don't have a problem with eating lamb and beef even though the land degradation entailed in farming sheep and cows destroys the habitat and leads to the extinction of other, equally as cute, native animals.

by Tom on October 05, 2008 at 08:43 AM

I was eating alot of kangaroo for a while - kanga bangers are good - go well with curry - the ground beef is a bit gamey smelling, but after adding some red wine goes well as a pasta sauce. The steaks cook well too as medium rare or rare.
All kanagaroo requires lots of olive oil to cook as it is soo low in fat that it dries out when cooking.
I read in an article by WWF that there isn't anywhere near enough kangaroo out there to replace the beef that australians eat, although, I think kanagaroo and free range chicken are a good match to eat sustainably.

by Dave on October 05, 2008 at 08:43 AM

I've been eating Kangaroo meat for a couple of years now. Considering that it is fully organic unlike chicken and also really cheap it is perfect to have. It was fine for the original Australians why not us?
It is not easy to cook but I agree a good beatroot salad with dressing and some greens makes a great meal!
To thos who do not want to try it get off your high horses and give it a go you will be suprised.

by Stuart on October 05, 2008 at 09:10 AM

Agree Paul, how can you try to protect one speices and eat others I for one have moved to a veg. diet and feel and look so much better for it.

by Kathy on October 05, 2008 at 09:19 AM

Wiht all due respect to all of you coments I have a few things to add.
1. When was the last (or first) time you ever went to a farm and saw how the land and the introduced species were managed. There are far more farmers out there who have sustainable land practices whilst farming cattle and sheep. How many big corporations do you see planting trees and managing the land in which we inhabit. I'm pretty sure they carve up the coastline and clog the air with their cars so they can live whether its sustainable or not.
2. Roo shooting is managed sustainably and they are never overculled. If you want to eat kangaroo by all means go ahead but they are difficult to farm due to their low pregnancy rate and need for vast distances.
3. Some of our closest "family" in the ape department ARE ominovores.
I'm not saying any of your arguments are wrong just that some are misinformed and that ignorance is not a blessing especially when discussing the country's largest industry.

by Samantha on October 05, 2008 at 09:21 AM

It's easy! Aussies dont eat kangaroo because it tastes like crap! You cant get the game out of it unless you stew it for hours on end..and it has no flavour attractive to a human pallet as there is no fat content in the meat!

by bionic on October 05, 2008 at 09:30 AM

I always buy kangaroo meat over other forms in Australian supermarkets... I actually cook my meat so the taste isn't really that different.
The issue is basically one of people unwilling to change their habits. None of the arguments against eating kangaroo are logical, they're all based on emotion -- which is fine, if the sheep and cattle industry wasn't so destructive to the Australian landscape.
***
Try becoming vegans - as nature intended us to be (look at our nearest relative, the Bonobo.
by Bonobo's daughter on October 05, 2008 at 06:16 AM
***
Nature did not intend us to be vegans. First, nature does not "intend" anything, you're anthropomorphising a natural process.
Second, you can't compare different species no matter how closely related they are, because they're different species. And if you do, why not choose the Common Chimpanzee, our other "nearest relative". You know, the ones that eat meat and seek out members of other chimp communities to kill?
Third, our bodies are clearly designed to be omniverous. In fact, had our distant ancestors not been meat-eaters they would have been unlikely to have left Africa.

by JEQP on October 05, 2008 at 09:34 AM

I wouldnt have a problem eating Roo, if I ate red meat. I toy with being a vegetarian from time to time but find it boring as I am not too keen a cook to make it interesting. So I tend to eat a bit of fish and free range chicken . I havent eaten red meat for so long I dont like it anymore, nor can I bear the look of it. But Roos are plentiful and we eat cows, sheep, pigs etc so why not Roo? It isnt for me but I know several people who eat it and love it. And you can buy it in Coles these days.
BTW , I did try Moose once when I travelled in Alaska. It tasted sort of like stringy, tough lamb. Yuck!!

by em on October 05, 2008 at 09:48 AM

The trick to cooking kangaroo properly is to cook it very quickly over a hot fire and serve it rare to medium rare. Kangaroo goes tough and chewy very rapidly if overcooked. I read somewhere that kangaroo has almost zero fat and cholesterol, and something like 5 times the iron of beef. Eat up, Australia!
My partner and I are both American-born Australians and positively LOVE kangaroo steaks, roasts and mince. Make your next spag bol with kangaroo mince and you'll never go back to beef. Far from the Skippy image, I think too many Australians think of kangaroo as roadkill, much as my partner and I think of eating rabbit, not because they're cute and fuzzy, but we've seen too many squished, bloated and flyblown rabbits on the roadsides of southwestern USA.

by Davo245 on October 05, 2008 at 10:21 AM

What the world needs now is a bit of "vegetable love": Moving away from eating so much meat - in whatever form - and reinstating delicious, nutritious vegetables at the centre of the plate. Our meat consumption has roughly doubled in 50 years and we have wiped out 90% of the ocean's large fish stocks. Our greed is simply unsustainable.
The slaughter of kangaroos currently is also done in a must inhumane manner and this will not improve, as long as dollars and gluttony influence.

by Anne Elliott on October 05, 2008 at 10:26 AM

I have found Kangaroo meat to be a bit chewy in past experiences. But I do agree it would be far better for the environment to eat indigenous animals and plants.
However, I don�t think it really matters what we eat, the real problem is that there are too many people in the world. What we should start considering is cannibalism.
A nice Vegan with black bean sauce, bit of ginger and garlic, yummo!

by Charlie on October 05, 2008 at 11:00 AM

Roos are already shot up. There a pest in many of the farms out west and farmers pay ppl to come get rid of the roos. Quite an abundance of em and if they dont end up in some1s belly it will prob be flat on the side of the road.

by Chris on October 05, 2008 at 11:48 AM

Bloody Veggies! We've been eating meat since the history of our species, in fact we've eaten anything we can get our bloody teeth into. It goes against everything in our DNA to not eat meat, or even be picky about our diet. Go live in a small village in China or south east asia, most countries in Africa and a few more around the world and turn down the meagre offering they give you cause it has meat in it! Eat whatever you can and be thankful, Vegetarian and Vegans are just egotistical self centred ignoramus' who have too much money and live in a nice comfortable zone of choice!! Come live in central africa and tell the locals what they can't eat!

by Bloke on October 05, 2008 at 12:07 PM

Another lot of bullshit in a blog. Kangaroo meat will never take off in Australia

by Jonny on October 05, 2008 at 12:14 PM

Yeah, 'roo meat is a bit of an acquired taste for a mature palate, but it is actually worth putting the effort in.
Regarding the "inhumane" treatment of kangaroos:
1) Either you eat animals or you don't. If you do, killing them is a requirement.
2) We don't really (and shouldn't) treat animals as if they were humans. Sorry Skippy, but my opposable thumbs put me higher up the food chain than you.

by Joe on October 05, 2008 at 12:15 PM

whales are not an endangered species any more

by nobody on October 05, 2008 at 12:48 PM

bionic, you must cook it wrongly. kangaroo is tasty and very good for you (especially if you are recovering from a heart attack). kangaroo causes less devestation to the environment and has been eaten by my ancestors for about 55,000 years. think of that amount of time, i.e. about 53,000 years before christ.
eat the meat that will keep you healthy and will also help to protect the future of our children.
my 2c

by tovi on October 05, 2008 at 01:26 PM

nope, No kangaroo for me either. can't stand the joy the hunters get from killin the poor little bugga's. makes me ill.

by Mike on October 05, 2008 at 01:39 PM

as an expat living in the land of BBQ's (Uruguay) I can't describe how much i miss good ol' skippy. coles in randwick always had the most gorgeous tender roo fillets and if cooked rare with a little adobo they are just great. i would also recommend the james squire brewery at kings st wharf...they do a great pepper roo on a bed of mashed pumpkin.
it's sad i can't buy kangaroo here as the way they BBQ is the best. maybe it's time for a visit to the local zoo.

by david on October 05, 2008 at 01:50 PM

I first tried roo in the late 60s and i have been eating it ever since,occasionally its a little hard to find but if you havnt tried it DONT criticise it,its lean has a nice flavour is good for you and the environment,get out of the bloody skippy idea its an animal no different to any other and we can afford to kill them by the millions,they are a farmers pest they destroy crops wherever they are costing the farming community and the general population millions of dollars a year.
Nobodycomplains about eating Bugs Bunny,or Donald Duck,so why complain about eating skippy.
When the drought starts to bite again this summer and the price of lamb and beef go through the roof you can waste your money and your health,ill keep eating roo save my money and save my health.

by hoova on October 05, 2008 at 02:15 PM

I can�t believe people are having this debate. Kangaroos are not a domesticated animal and farming them in any shape or form would be cruelty at is worse. I also disagree wit DD's comments about that�s its ok to hunt / kill native animals just because the are not endangered, we are being so hypocritical when we criticise our nations about hunting animals (whales, dolphin�s, seals etc) and yet we will cull Kangaroos because we want more land as well as exploiting is image from our coat of arms to Qantas
We talk about native title yet do recognize that native wild life were he first and deserve our protection.
Studies show the red Kangaroo numbers and declining and in ten to twenty yeas may become threatened.

by Ray on October 05, 2008 at 02:29 PM

When you consider the sheer volume of water to raise cattle alone. Kangaroos are a better option for our country. They just need a really good marketing strategy to get Aussies to eat it. As well as maybe Emus and Crocs.

by Carlo G on October 05, 2008 at 02:46 PM

HI from France !
I think, skippy must stay on zoo and TVseries, not on the plate ! enjoy skippy in australia and zoo ! please aussies!
with congratulations from FRANCE

by roland ciraudo on October 05, 2008 at 03:22 PM

My dog won't eat roo mince. That worries me.
As to not eating our national symbol, try getting the French to give up roosters!

by Kate on October 05, 2008 at 03:39 PM

I love roo meat - it's sustainable, ecofriendly, and healthy!

by Bambi on October 05, 2008 at 03:43 PM

Absolutely ridiculous. A fact sheet my friend gave me:
Australia's human population: 20.1 million
How much meat is consumed per human per year: 112 kg
How much meat can you get from a 'large' kangaroo: 12 kg
How many kangaroos are they saying?: 175000000
How many kangaroos now? 24000000
Usual hunting quota per year: 15%
How much meat would you get from these kangas per year? 315000000 kg
What percentage of current meat eating? 14%
How much greenhouse gas is livestock responsible for? 30%
How much could we reduce Australia's greenhouse emissions by eating kangaroos, assuming kangaroo raising and killing emits no greenhouse gas? 14% of 30% = 4.2%
Compared to not farming any animal any more? given all plant agriculture put together contributes less than 2%... at least 27% of emissions could be eliminated, probably much more if we allow native forests to regenerate and store carbon. at least 6.4 times better.

by Jacinta on October 05, 2008 at 04:01 PM

I love kangaroo! It's Australia's version of venison (native herbivores - deer in the northern hemisphere, kangaroo in Australia). Our family of 6 all eat it. More people should try it!

by Alenka on October 05, 2008 at 05:42 PM

To all fellow Australians, think about it, it would be more Australian to eat Roo than any other meat product. It's cheaper to buy, one choice of cut and bloody good for you. I know I want to live longer and this is my choice, and saving the environment (never thought I would say that but there you go)
Mike

by mike on October 05, 2008 at 06:07 PM

Jacinta on October 05, 2008 at 04:01 PM
Nice one, but you built your great big McMansion in outer Sydney, right where all the vegies used to be grown. As there is little water on the other side of the divide, where are you going to grow all these vegies? ...maybe if you cut down all the native forests south of Bega??...

by Heads on October 05, 2008 at 07:00 PM

I have a mob of about 100+ roos living on our 180 acre block near Canberra & would love it if somebody would offer to 'cull & carve' one on a regular basis. I'd be happy to learn how to carve & happy to share the roo. I should add that the place was thrashed by sheep for years including the latest drought & that after 12 months with just the roos [& odd echidna] the weeds are down, the grass is thick, you can't see the bare soil & very few blowies. The other up side is that it's really nice to see the mob take a kip in the shade in summer & also brilliant when they're on the hop.

by spud on October 05, 2008 at 07:25 PM

My dog and cat eat and enjoy their kangaroo mince. I don't know if I could eat it myself - after a visit to a cattle farm, I stopped eating red meat for a year... It took a really long time to get back to it, but I had to, due to anemic issues.

by Bec on October 05, 2008 at 08:01 PM

Bring it on! Love 'roo - also croc, snake & ostrich. Took some to try on friends in Thailand - the kids enjoyed it, adults thought it a bit too strong in flavour for them. Oddly enough, they hammer through durian like they were sweet bikkies.

by PGS on October 05, 2008 at 09:08 PM

I love skippy and he or she is very tasty, I know that Qantas (the flying kangaroo) used to serve it not sure if they still do. At the end of the day we all need to eat Red Meat and as it's low in fat and high in protien we should all have a go at eating it and you can always wash it down with a nice Aussie Merlot. A Hambuger with Beetroot is as boring as bat poo, fresh beetroot with a roast of roo loin is yummo and don't forget the Aussie Merlot. I have a cousin 4 hrs west of Brissie on the land and when the roos are eating everything, they need to be culled better to eat them then let them rot on the ground.

by Paul on October 05, 2008 at 09:16 PM

I lived on a property for 20 years. It sustained a large roo population. Kangaroos were routinely shot for dog meat. It did not put a dent in the kangaroo population. I will never eat kangaroo because as the meat was butchered large numbers of parasites like liver fluke were always present. You are only safe from this if the meat is well cooked. Not always pleasanr for eating after this. So no roo meat and internal parasites for me. Not worth the risk

by Sophi on October 05, 2008 at 10:07 PM

Whats that Skip? The bandits are going to EAT you!!???

by Lucas on October 05, 2008 at 10:13 PM

The kangaroo industry indiscriminately kills females as well as male kangaroos. As a result every day 1000's of Joeys and young at foot are committed to death when their mothers are killed.3 generations are killed at once.At this rate the kangaroo will become endangered. I dont think our overseas visitors would be very impressed. I recommend your readers read the submission to the federal Government on the kangaroo Industry by the Wilderness Society at www.wilderness.org.au/au/articles/review-the-kangaroo-industry

by marjoh on October 06, 2008 at 02:21 PM

I am all for eating kangaroo. However living in the inner west does not allow easy access to kangaroo.
Kangaroo food tours would be cool. I would sign up. If only i could start eating the actual Skippy.

by Robot Rabbit on October 08, 2008 at 12:51 PM

Those who think that a rapid conversion to eating kangaroo, or complete veganism is simple, easy or environmentally attractive lack a basic understanding of food production and agricultural systems. To summarise.
(i) The world has limited space, but must feed the current population, which exceeds 6 billion people. Any measure which reduces production in one place, requires an equal increase in production somewhere else. If we reduce production in Australia, how many hectares of Amazon rainforest will be cleared to compensate?
(ii) Both the impact of kangaroos on the landscape and their requirement for chemical parasite and disease control are as much a functioon of population density as the nature of the animal itself. If farmers are to replace cattle and sheep with roos, we'll need to run them in similar numbers per hectare to achieve the same production and feed the same number of people. Farmers do not apply drenches, chemicals and fertiliser for fun. We only do it because they are required for production, and high-production roo farming requires similar inputs. Let's not fool ourselves that roos are immune to parasites. I have seen first-hand the large populations of worms and ticks that they carry at some times.
(iii) Vegans frequently compare their diet with factory-produced chicken or feedlot beef, but ignore two things. Firstly that there is a huge amount of land which cannot support the production of the grains that vegans require, but does support extensive grazing. Take this land out of production and , again, we meet the need to bring more high-rainfall ares into agricultural production .... which means clearing more rainforest. Secondly, that the majority of grain production and vegetable production exists as monocultures. Biodiversity only exists on the small margins where (diesel-burning) machinery cannot operate. Extensive grazing, on the other hand, can and does exist across landscapes with a huge degree of biodiversity and retained habitat for rare native species.
.............
The point is not that any one system is perfect. It is that the systems in place right now have been developed through centuries of research and hard work. We cannot replace them overnight without paying a high price.

Peter

by Farmer Pete on October 19, 2008 at 12:26 PM

I heartily agree that we should stop farming cattle,sheep etc, if only to conserve our very fragile top soil, and eating roo is a start. But apart from that, becoming a vegetarian is not difficult and can be a healthy alternative to eating meat - but - one must learn what foods to eat and their combination - otherwise we could become anaemic and unhealthy. I had heard that the Seven Day Adventists are one of the healthiest group in the world.

by kate on November 16, 2008 at 12:15 PM

David Dale needs to wake up and realize that cattle have been around for thousands of years and they are not going to cause the end of the world! Clearly he has gotten his facts from another source who has bought into this ridiculous lie that what happens to the Earth depends completely on humans. We are a tiny speck relative to the Earth and the universe. Get over yourselves, people! Nobody is that important.

by Christen on June 27, 2009 at 09:43 AM

Beef, Lamb and Roo- its all good! BBQ over Red gum charcoal- delicious. No way we'd ever swap Beef for Roo though. Roo is game and therefore niche.

by BiG Red on July 08, 2010 at 06:37 PM

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WHO WE ARE: But what if the beetroots are the aliens?

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