A DISPLAY at the Australian Museum urging people to eat less meat and to stop cows burping has raised concerns about the taxpayer funded organisation painting a one-sided and highly disputed view of the role of livestock.

Beef Central was sent a photo of the fiberglass cow with text shouting “stop my burps, they are warming the planet” and “please eat more plants and less of me”, by a producer visiting the museum on a trip to Sydney over the holidays.

The display was no doubt seen by thousands of people, who pour through the doors over the Christmas holidays – including kids who were there for an educational experience. The producer who sent in the photo said he was “disgusted” to see that this was what they were being taught.

The display was part of the Museum’s Spark and Future Now displays and were promoting the methane-reducing feed additive seaweed asparagopsis – which several companies are currently trying to commercialise.

But the producer told Beef Central that the text about the additive was insignificant compared to the messages on the cow.

It is not the first time the Museum has been criticised for its stance on the meat industry, with former 2GB presenter Chris O’Keefe last year criticising it for a display that said eating less meat was a way of helping reduce personal impact on climate change.

Asked why the Museum decided to use such a display and what it had done to counterbalanced the claims being made on the display, a spokesperson said:

“The Australian Museum’s (AM) ‘Future Now’ exhibition focuses on ways communities, industry and individuals can address environmental challenges, including climate change, sustainable food production and farming practices, alongside themes of urban development, species conservation and ecological revitalisation.

“The exhibition, which has been touring NSW for the past two years, highlights the role of Australian farmers as innovators and champions of environmentally sustainable approaches to industry.

“The three main displays in the exhibition detail Cities, Farming and Ecological best practice.”

The three dioramas in bespoke pods of the Future Now exhibition on display in Hintze Hall at the Australian Museum. Visitors Stella and Ruby explore the dioramas featuring scale models and audio-visual content that highlight innovative solutions for tackling the impacts of climate change. The exhibition will tour regionally throughout 2023.

While the display heavily featured asparagopsis manufacturer Sea Forest, the museum said there was no commercial arrangement with the company.

Display built on misinformation

Cattle Australia chief executive Dr Chris Parker said people sponsoring such displays needed to better inform themselves.

“It’s sad that a well-intentioned museum exhibition has been built on misinformation about the role of cattle in the environment,” Dr Parker said.

“Simplistic and ignorant messages graffitied on a cow statue do little to  inform debate on these issues, and although art is in the eye of the beholder, this is low brow, populist, woke imaging.

“Cattle producers practice sustainable and ecologically sound management to ensure the ongoing health of our landscape. The feedback CA has received from both producers and the general public shows the museum missed the mark with this exhibit and that the ‘blame cattle’ narrative is unravelling. We would encourage those sponsoring these sorts of exhibitions to better inform themselves of the issues involved rather than attaching themselves to simplistic, ill-informed woke messaging.”

Asked what information the Museum missed in its characterisation of the cattle industry, Dr Parker said:

“The Australian Museum has missed a golden opportunity to provide a meaningful and engaging exhibition which depicts the reality of Australian producers responsibly and sustainably managing some 50pc of Australia’s land mass, while simultaneously playing a crucial role in the food security of people all around the world,” he said.

“Ironically, the exhibition promotes the use of seaweed-based feed additives as the simple methane solution. Research into seaweed feed additives for cattle was funded and developed by the beef industry as part of a holistic and responsible approach to environmental management.

“What the exhibition fails to mention is that methane is just part of a natural cycle in which cattle upcycle grass and forages into protein for human consumption. As every beef producer knows, land and pasture management are critical to healthy ecosystems and healthy animals. Along with pasture science, animal genetics and land management, feed additives are just a part of the wide-ranging research and development programs the industry invests in to continually improve sustainable practices.”