Cows Fed 2nd Hand Candy

Nutrition
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http://www.wpri.com/dpps/entertainment/must_see_video/cows-eating-candy-during-the-drought-nd12-jgr_4323303

Cows eating candy during the drought

Updated: Thursday, 16 Aug 2012, 7:53 AM EDT
Published : Thursday, 16 Aug 2012, 7:53 AM EDT

MAYFIELD, Ky. (CNN/WPSD) - Ranchers have struggled with skyrocketing corn prices, because the drought has made feeding their livestock very expensive. But one rancher has turned to a very sweet solution.

At Mayfield’s United Livestock Commodities, owner Joseph Watson is tweaking the recipe for success.

“Just to be able to survive, we have to look for other sources of nutrition,” he said.

His 1,400 cattle are no longer feeding off corn. The prices, Watson says, are too high to keep corn in stock. So earlier this year, he began to buy second-hand candy.

“It has a higher ratio of fat than actually feeding straight corn,” Watson explained. “It’s hard to believe it will work but we’ve already seen the results of it now.”

Watson mixes the candy with an ethanol by-product and a mineral nutrient. He says the cows have not shown any health problems from eating the candy, and they are gaining weight as they should.

“This ration is balanced to have not too much fat in it,” he said.

The packaged candy comes from various companies at a discounted rate because it is not fit for store shelves.

“Salvage is a problem for a lot of these companies and they’re proud to have a place to go with it,” said Watson.

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I’m curious where " 2nd hand candy" comes from… is this like the candy that falls on the floor at the factory ?

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[quote]tmay11 wrote:
I’m curious where " 2nd hand candy" comes from… is this like the candy that falls on the floor at the factory ? [/quote]
I am too but can’t seem to find anything on it. When they showed the pallet sized container of candy some of it was in wrappers and some wasn’t. Also, looked like a giant glob of gummy worms so maybe factory defects?

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The reason I thought this belonged in the nutrition section of T-Nation was for the beef this guy is producing. It seems like every so often farmers are found feeding cattle something they shouldn’t. Only way to really be sure your beef wasn’t feed commercial garbage and kept alive with drugs is to buy organic.

I also think it is insane when commercial producers claim their product is as nutrition dense as organic products. How can a cow that has eaten candy for a majority of its daily calories even be comparable to a grass fed and finished counterpart?

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[quote]JLone wrote:
The reason I thought this belonged in the nutrition section of T-Nation was for the beef this guy is producing. It seems like every so often farmers are found feeding cattle something they shouldn’t. Only way to really be sure your beef wasn’t feed commercial garbage and kept alive with drugs is to buy organic.

I also think it is insane when commercial producers claim their product is as nutrition dense as organic products. How can a cow that has eaten candy for a majority of its daily calories even be comparable to a grass fed and finished counterpart? [/quote]

Exactly.

You can’t built a marble palace with sugar cubes.

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[quote]JLone wrote:
The reason I thought this belonged in the nutrition section of T-Nation was for the beef this guy is producing. It seems like every so often farmers are found feeding cattle something they shouldn’t. Only way to really be sure your beef wasn’t feed commercial garbage and kept alive with drugs is to buy organic.

I also think it is insane when commercial producers claim their product is as nutrition dense as organic products. How can a cow that has eaten candy for a majority of its daily calories even be comparable to a grass fed and finished counterpart? [/quote]

sadly organic when it comes to meat doesn’t mean much… for beef I’d be sure to look for 100% pastured/grass-fed or grass finished.

With al the stock piles of corn, it’s surprising there is a shortage. Love how they say the candy is high in fat, lol even the farmers can’t admit the sugar makes them fat :smiley: