Can we support a larger human population by eating grains and other primary foods directly,or by first feeding this food to cows(a secondary source),and then eating the cows.
As you go up the food chain, the amount of energy retained to be passed on to the next level decreases.
Adding a level by feeding secondary sources, then eating them, therefore decreases the energy humans would get with respect to primary foods.
So, which do you think supports a larger population?
Can humans digest cellulose?
This is about all I could find, it is on Dogs and Cats, but some human info. The issue in these comparision on food "efficiency" is energy vs quality amino acids. Energy is one item, if the animal can digest cellulose, but quality amino acid (protein) is another.
http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/contrast.html
And one other link, there are cellulose based foods that can supply needed protein (but still not complete)..
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2708/2
To answer this question, we need to take a look at the concept of trophic levels and energy transfer in ecosystems. Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem through which energy flows. In this case, we can consider plants (such as grains) as primary producers, cows as primary consumers, and humans as secondary consumers.
When we eat plants directly, we consume the energy stored in them, which allows us to sustain ourselves. However, when we feed plants to cows and then consume the cows, it introduces an extra trophic level and results in energy loss.
Here's a breakdown of the energy transfer in this scenario:
1. Eating grains directly:
- Humans consume grains (e.g., wheat, rice) as primary producers.
- Energy is transferred from the grains to humans, supporting their dietary needs directly.
- This is the most efficient method of utilizing energy, as there is no loss between trophic levels.
2. Feeding grains to cows and then eating the cows:
- Cows consume grains, which act as primary producers in this case.
- Energy is transferred from the grains to cows, who use it for their bodily functions, growth, and daily activities.
- When humans consume the cows, energy is then transferred to them.
- However, since energy is lost in the transfer from plants to cows (as cows use energy for their own purposes), this method is less efficient.
Therefore, from an efficiency standpoint, it is better to support a larger human population by directly consuming grains and other primary foods. Feeding these primary foods to cows and then consuming the cows results in energy loss, making it a less efficient way of supporting human population growth.