7 facts about beef

In light of May being National Beef Month, here are seven facts about cows and beef that may surprise you.

1. The United States and Brazil are the top beef-producing countries in the world.

2. Beef is a source of 14 essential nutrients: protein, iron, zinc, selenium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin D, phosphorus, pantothenate, magnesium, and potassium.

3. There are more than 1,000 breeds of cow worldwide.

4. Uruguay, Argentina, and Hong Kong consume the most beef in the world at more than 100 pounds per capita each.

5. Only about 60 percent of a cow is used for meat. The rest is used to create items such as leather, glue, soap, and pharmaceuticals.

6. Cows are descendants of a type of wild oxen known as aurochs that were first domesticated more than 10,000 years ago.

7. Beef is the third most popular meat consumed globally, topped only by pork and poultry.

Beef is a nutritious food staple in countries around the world, and global demand for it is on the rise.