After building a tech empire, Mark Zuckerberg is feeding his cows beer and macadamia nuts, and the goal is to create world’s highest-quality beef | World News
After building a global tech empire with Meta, Mark Zuckerberg has turned his attention to a far more unusual project: raising cattle. The Meta chief executive recently revealed that he is feeding his cows roasted macadamia nuts and even beer as part of an ambitious effort to produce what he calls “the world’s highest-quality beef”. The project is unfolding on his sprawling Koʻolau Ranch in Hawaii, where he has been raising Wagyu and Angus cattle since around 2024. While the unconventional diet has attracted widespread attention, Zuckerberg says the experiment is driven by his fascination with cattle genetics rather than any commercial ambition.
Mark Zuckerberg’s unusual cow project
Zuckerberg spoke about the project during an appearance on the Idea Generation podcast, where he described cattle farming as one of his favourite personal pursuits outside of running Meta.“On the ranch, one of my projects is, I’m trying to create the highest-quality beef in the world,” he said. “It’s like this is very low stakes, right. It’s like, I’m not selling it, but it’s like, I’m very into the genetics of the cattle.”The Meta CEO explained that he began raising a cross of Wagyu and Angus cattle around 2024, focusing on breeding, nutrition and long-term genetics rather than producing beef for sale.
Why are the cows eating macadamia nuts and drinking beer?
The cattle’s unconventional diet has become one of the most talked-about parts of Zuckerberg’s project. At Koʻolau Ranch, a portion of the land is dedicated to growing macadamia trees specifically for cattle feed. During the Idea Generation podcast, Zuckerberg said the nuts are roasted before being fed to the animals because they are energy-dense, helping the cattle consume more calories and gain weight as they mature.The beer serves a different purpose. Zuckerberg said he brews it himself and lets the cattle choose between room-temperature water and cold beer. According to him, the beer is intended to stimulate the animals’ appetite, encouraging them to eat more feed. The idea reflects his broader focus on carefully managing nutrition alongside breeding and genetics in his pursuit of producing what he calls the “world’s highest-quality beef.“
The ranch behind the experiment
The cattle are raised at Koʻolau Ranch on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi, where Zuckerberg began acquiring land in 2014. The property has expanded over the years into a large private estate spanning more than 2,300 acres.Alongside cattle pastures, the ranch includes orchards, agricultural land and residential buildings. The property has also drawn public attention over land purchases and concerns raised by some Native Hawaiian groups regarding nearby cultural and burial sites.During the podcast, he acknowledged that he can become deeply immersed in his work and said personal projects help him maintain balance. He also revealed that his daughters enjoy helping to plant trees and care for the family’s animals, making the ranch a shared family activity.“I’m never gonna stop, like it doesn’t matter how important or whatever the thing is,” Zuckerberg said. “It’s like, yeah, I’ll do some projects that don’t matter that much.”He added that exploring interests beyond work helps him recharge creatively and avoid becoming overly consumed by a single pursuit.
