When Recycling Goes Wrong: The Texas Cattle Crisis and What We Can Learn

Texas is facing a crisis that you may have recently heard about. Since 2023, ranchers in the state have been grappling with the mysterious deaths of their cattle, and only recently have they begun to uncover the cause. As concerns rise over spikes in these deaths, it’s become clear that what appeared to be a simple tragedy is actually linked to a much larger issue.

As a farmer myself, I understand that deciding when to perform an autopsy on an animal is never easy. It's not always cost-effective, and if there’s no sign of a widespread issue, it's often not a priority. Animals can pass for many reasons—sometimes even something as simple as a stray kick to the head. Although we like to think that all our animals get along, the reality is that cattle are often pushy and unpredictable creatures. Because of this, it’s rare to conduct autopsies for every animal that dies in the field. Death, after all, is a natural part of life, and we don’t always have the ability to control when it comes.

However, when things start to go wrong in larger numbers, like when healthy animals suddenly die and even the fish in nearby ponds are affected, questions begin to emerge.

That’s exactly what happened in Texas. Some ranchers noticed the loss of up to 35 cattle over an unknown period. One of these cattle even went blind before passing. This alarming pattern led the ranchers to seek answers—and what they discovered was shocking. The fertilizer they had been using, or that their neighbors had been using, contained biosolids. While biosolids are often promoted as a sustainable method of recycling municipal sewage, they have an unintended consequence: they contain harmful chemicals called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These “forever chemicals” are not broken down in the environment, making them a significant threat to both human health and the environment.

PFAS are found in more than 12,000 different chemicals, but only around 150 have been extensively studied for their harmful effects. These chemicals have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer, birth defects, liver and immune system damage, and low birth rates. And disturbingly, PFAS have been found in the blood of 97% of Americans.

As ranchers, we don't like to throw anything away. We pride ourselves on not wasting, and we are always committed to supporting environmental efforts. We understand the importance of conserving and protecting our planet—our livelihoods depend on it. However, this situation in Texas serves as a stark reminder that not all recycling methods are created equal. What was intended to be a responsible recycling practice has become a public health and environmental disaster.

This brings me to a point I feel deeply about: It’s essential that we, as a community, step up and understand the full implications of our actions. Recycling is important, but it’s just as important to ensure that the methods we use don’t harm the environment or the people and animals who depend on it. We must be mindful of how we recycle, what we recycle, and what impact it might have on our world.

So, let's all take a moment to reflect on how we can contribute to better recycling practices—whether it’s making informed choices about the products we use or supporting local efforts to ensure the safety of our environment. And please, keep the ranchers of Texas in your thoughts. They are facing the loss of not just animals, but their livelihoods, and with Texas being the largest beef supplier in the United States, this crisis is one that affects us all.

As always, let's savor the good moments, flourish in our endeavors, and enjoy the ride—but never forget to close the gate and take care of what matters most.

Trevor Moller, April Johnson,

and the team at Stock & Steeds