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.”
I went to the Australian museum recently with my grandchildren and was disgusted by the green cow section and horrified that our taxpayer funds are used to support such rubbish.
Australian farmers are the best in the world and should be celebrated at the Australian museum.
The museum has a wonderful number of taxidermy and other specimens but they are badly organised and maintained.
So disappointing all round
There’s nothing like incorrect information being promoted as the saviour of our world, that information being incorrect and formulated on total ignorance of what actually happens outside of suburbia.
For those urbanites, may I suggest looking closer to home for the real problem areas- very close in fact!
Perhaps its time to call in the graffiti removers.
“heavily featured asparagopsis manufacturer Sea Forest, the museum said there was no commercial arrangement with the company”
… many of us cattle producers are VERY frustrated with the peddlers of seaweed slandering the good name of our product!!
Enough!
Has anyone seen a full life-cycle assessment of the production, processing etc of this seaweed snake oil to confirm if it actually has any net reduction to atmospheric emissions??
Seems like they are just making money of slandering cattle & selling a non-solution to a non-problem.
Beef is very nutrient dense. We need as much of this food as we can get….seems the museum needs educating.
companies have been bragging about making plants taste like meat
but cows have been doing that forever
woke green agenda from uneducated people
The only advertising we see in Australia from MLA is on Australia Day for lamb. I’d like to see beef adds when major football events in all codes are on State Of Origins,major semi’s & grand finals.Santa Gertrudis Association do adds in Rugby League season why can’t MLA.We pay a lot in levies & the lamb add on Australia Day is all we’re getting.
Agree.
Too little, too late, & too limp.
Beef needs a serious marketing campaign.
It is a shame there is not also a photo of the sign, which without doubt would be large, succinct and located right beside the fibreglass cow, detailing how the cow was a carbon neutral display. It would say that the glass fibre, resins, paint, moulds, and associated ventilation and equipment were all emissions free in both their creation/manufacture, and then in their combined use in producing the cow. We can be certain management at the Australian Museum would have insisted on it. Being taxpayer-funded, management would require such assurances before allowing such puerile messaging on a display which is clearly the product of a primary school level intellect.
Re: Australian Museum and Dummy Cow story.
As a producer, although very small; I am disgusted by the described display. However, we continue to see stories; displays; reports etc with the driver behind it hiding behind the name of a organisation; The Australian Museum didn’t put up this display, some people did, someone is responsible-name the person responsible and let them face the public scrutiny; don’t let them hide behind the name Australian Museum.
The same applies to the bureaucracy in government; we criticise the PM or the relevant minister but never mention the name of the bureaucrats behind the decision; they need to be called out as well
Grazier tax dollars , no doubt are used to subsidise the museum .
A good review of the practice is needed