How smart would cows have to become for you to stop eating beef?
Obviously this question is only for people who eat beef regularly.
But I just was wondering, what IQ/ability would make you swear off beef? If they could speak like an 8 y.o, would that be enough to cut off beef? If they got an IQ of 80, would that do it?
I once stayed off red meat for 1 year and my health improved tremendously, and then returned to it and my health deteriorated in record time. I'm now back off red meat and feeling better than ever. Maybe at one time red meat was good for you, but the way they raise cattle for profits it would not surprise me they are butchering sick animals as well.
Red meat, and processed meat, and processed red meat, etc. certainly aren't great for you - cancer risk and such. Limiting their consumption makes sense for (long-term) medical reasons, often for economical, ethical and environmental reasons as well. In terms of acute food safety, most "developed" countries will do a good enough job to make sure you don't catch a pathogen from it. Can't assume everyone plays fair, but you also can't really assume they don't.
If you feel ill or have measurable changes to your health just from eating red meat, though... you might want to see a doctor.