The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Economics => Topic started by: BlueStateSaint on August 17, 2012, 05:38:30 PM
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This is a somewhat-surprising measure to take.
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."
Hey, if it works, . . . ! The rest is here: http://www.wpri.com/dpps/entertainment/must_see_video/cows-eating-candy-during-the-drought-nd12-jgr_4323303
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I wonder if they have checked to see if any of the candy may be poisonous for the cows.
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I wonder if they have checked to see if any of the candy may be poisonous for the cows.
How much of the candy contains "high fructose corn syrup" ?
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I'm not surprised at this at all. Growing up on the farm, half of our hogs' diet was made up of day old bread and expired milk-cheap feed since the only cost was hauling it away. The cows loved the bread, we'd feed them a loaf as a treat every now and then, they'd almost go crazy for it once they got a taste of it.
The oddest though, there is an ice cream plant in the area and all their waste ice cream goes to several local hog farmers in the area for feed.