After building a global technology empire with Meta, Mark Zuckerberg turned his attention to a far more exotic venture: cattle farming. Meta’s CEO 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 highest quality beef in the world.”
The project takes place on Hawaii’s sprawling Koolau Ranch, where it has been raising Wagyu and Angus cattle since approximately 2024. While the unconventional diet has attracted widespread attention, Zuckerberg says the experiment is driven by his fascination with livestock 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 ranching as one of his favorite personal hobbies outside of managing Meta.“On the farm, one of my projects is that I try to produce the highest quality beef in the world,” he said. “It’s like this is very low risk, right. It’s like I’m not selling it, but it’s like I’m very interested in cattle genetics.”Meta’s CEO explained that he began breeding cross-breeding Wagyu and Angus cattle around 2024, focusing on long-term breeding, nutrition and genetics rather than producing beef for sale.
Why do cows eat macadamia nuts and drink beer?
The livestock’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 set aside to plant macadamia trees specifically for livestock feed. During the Idea Generation podcast, Zuckerberg said that nuts are roasted before being fed to animals because they are energy dense, which helps livestock consume more calories and gain weight as they mature.Beer serves a different purpose. Zuckerberg said he brews it himself and gives the cattle a choice between room temperature water and cold beer.
According to him, the aim of beer is to stimulate the animals’ appetite and encourage them to eat more feed. The idea reflects his broader focus on careful nutritional management combined with breeding and genetics in his quest to produce what he calls “the highest quality beef in the world.”
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The farm behind the experience
The cattle are raised at Koolau Ranch on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, 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.In addition to cow pastures, the farm includes orchards, agricultural lands, and residential buildings. The property also drew public attention regarding land purchases and concerns raised by some Native Hawaiian groups regarding nearby cultural and burial sites.During the podcast, he acknowledged that he can get deeply immersed in his work and said that personal projects help him maintain balance. He also revealed that his daughters enjoy helping plant trees and taking care of the family animals, making the farm a joint family activity.“I will never stop, no matter how important it is or whatever it may be,” Zuckerberg said. “It’s like I’m going to do some project that doesn’t matter much.”He added that exploring interests beyond work helps him recharge his energy creatively and avoid becoming overly preoccupied with one task.
