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Right, but cattle can be raised where growing plants is impossible, and they can be fed by-products of plant agriculture that is not fit for human consumption.

It's really not an either-or, something that I feel is often lost in these discussions. Eating plants and meat is complementary, and has been for all of human history.

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What percentage of cattle actually subsists on otherwise barren lands, and what percentage is fed soy and grains explicitly grown for them.

It's also becoming possible to grow plants hydroponically in a highly automated and controlled environment (warehouse/cattle shed), with up to a 98% saving in treated water usage, 60% less nutrients required but with more nutritious crops and no pesticides. This is the case for High Pressure Aeroponics, which is slightly more complex than other hydroponic methods.

https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/ch_3.html

That's an interesting point, but isn't it also true that hydroponics are currently just not a very economically feasible option?

Depends on the crop. I know a lot of lettuce is grown Hydroponically. (but its basicly cellulose and water to begin with).

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