Silly Rabbit, Candy's for COWS!
Oct 02, 2012
Silly Rabbit, Candy’s for COWS!
I recently read an article that was quite disturbing. It dealt with how cattle producers are feeding their beef and dairy cattle "alternative" feedstuffs to help them get through the lack of forages and hay due to this past year's drought.
As reported on MSN Healthy Living, "Candy for breakfast, lunch and dinner might be a five-year-old’s dream, but it’s the new reality for dairy cows in some parts of the country. This summer’s drought has driven up the cost of corn feed, forcing farmers to look for cheaper and more plentiful alternatives. And they’ve found them in the form of gummy bears, marshmallows and even cookies. It’s Halloween every day on Mike Yoder’s farm in northern Indiana, where his herd of 450 cows feasts on a colorful mix of candy sprinkles—the kind usually seen atop birthday cakes and ice cream sundaes. These treats provide an adequate substitute for the starchy sugar content cows usually get from corn."
I’m not kidding, folks! This is seen as a reasonable alternative for grass, hay and, yes, even the "C" word, CORN. I’d feed $12 corn to my animals before I’d feed candy! If this garbage isn’t fit for human consumption, why would you feed it to animals that will be processed for HUMAN CONSUMPTION?
Kentucky rancher Joseph Watson mixes candy with ethanol byproducts and a mineral supplement, according to KLTV.com.
Kansas dairy farmer Orville Miller is replacing 5% of his cattle feed with chocolate. However, there are many who think this feed additive is not only wacky, but also wrong. An article published on American Public Media's Marketplace website says, "Some groups criticize farmers and ranchers for feeding livestock chocolate and the like. Marilyn Noble at the American Grassfed Association says, 'Cows were meant to eat grass, not candy.'"
Amen, sister! Grass is more natural for any animal, including humans, when candy is the alternative.
I really should end this blog at this point. It’s probably the shortest one I’ve ever written. But if I continue, I’m sure I’ll end up ticking off quite a few people/producers who think candy and Mountain Dew is an acceptable feed source for cattle.
God help us if this is an acceptable way to raise "Quality" beef and dairy products. Let’s hope there aren’t any diabetic consequences as the meat and dairy products from these animals enter the world's food supply! I’m glad my family and I raise all our own meat on GRASS pastures, not concrete and candy.
