Cows Like M&M's, Too
by Kristin Underwood, San Diego, CA on 08.26.08
Image source: Getty Images
Well, we don't know if they like them, but they will eat them. And as the cost of grains and corn has gone up because of the interest in ethanol, feeding cattle strictly corn is too expensive, reports the Wall Street Journal. So farmers are now moving to alternatives such as m&m's and potato chips mixed in with their corn, frankly because its cheaper. Compared to some of the other things that ranchers can and do feed cattle, maybe its not such a bad thing.
Grass-fed cattle make up only 10% of the beef market, according to the report. The farmers have to charge 30% more for the beef because its more costly to raise the cattle, and they can't pack as many cattle onto the property because of resource limitations when cattle just roam and graze. Americans are used to the high-fat taste of corn-fed beef, which is another concern for grass-fed cattle farmers when they take their beef to market.
More on Grass-fed Cattle
USDA Grass-Fed Beef Label in the Works
All On The Table: Cows, Corn, Gasoline, Spinach, E. Coli, and Grass
The Carbon Footprint of a Burger
Move to Ethanol Expected to Fuel Trend to More Vegetarianism
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
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- Cambodia’s First Ethanol Plant Will Use One-Fifth of Nation's Cassava Crop
- 15% of Iowa’s Carbon Emissions Come From Ethanol Plants, More Than Belching Cattle
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Hooray for beef that melts in your mouth, not in your hand!
The video link is broken, I had to search for it myself.
Here is the link to the video since the previous reader who searched for it decided to keep that information to them self.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid452319854/bctid1667996405
I just heard Ford has plans for a M and M powered vehicle. Another food source for cattle ruined!
Oh, wait it says "post a civil and intelligent comment". Well, one out of two ain't bad.
this is gross. ruminants are supposed to eat grass. it should be more expensive.
Won't this make them overweight, diabetic and suffer high blood pressure like the other animals who live on junk food?
This is absolutely retarded. Processed sugar and fat are NOT food sources. Cows are ruminants...feeding them this stuff is tantamount to abuse. Oh wait a minute: feeding this stuff to humans is criminal as well. If we've gotten too big for our beef-addicted britches, why don't we support other ways to stuff our faces? Read John Robbins and Michael Pollen. Watch "King Corn" and "Supersize Me". Then go make a salad for yourself - and take one to Bessie while you're at it!
Feeding cows m&ms and potato chips is hard to believe. Is this true? This country never ceases to amaze me. I am becoming very cynical because you can't trust ,what seems like anyone.
sherrie
This is really disgusting. I'm saddened to think that poor, innocent cows are being fed nasty human produced artificial foods. My hope would be a world filled with people who are not driven by money, but rather by quality and health. :)
what i dont get is why go out and by like 30 packages of m and ms when you could buy feed for the same price