The main purpose of this practice is the utilisation of thermally processed non-structural carbohydrates from by products of the sweets industry reducing the use of expensive concentrates. By-products of the food industry, i.e. cookies crowbars, mechanically damaged products from the production of biscuits and sweets, cocoa shells, peanuts, can be used in the feeding ration for fattening bulls and heifers (for the last 60-120 fattening days) in order to improve their fattening abilities, slaughter value and meat quality (marbling).
A pilot test was implemented in one beef farm in Lodz voivodship, Poland.
Poland is one of the largest confectionery producers in the European Union. We produce about 700 tons of sweets per year. Wastes in this industry constitutes from 10 to 35% of the weight of the processed raw material.Cocoa husk and peanuts have a high protein content (> 25%), while the biscuit crowbar has a high starch content of more than 75%. Additionally, the cocoa husk contains a lot of crude fiber > 17%. Moreover, these feeds are very palatable for the animals. The main issue is the microbiological quality of the feed. The crowbar can substitute between 50-70% of the concentrates in the feed ration depending on its chemical composition and feeding value. The performance values of fattened limousine bulls are presented bellow: ADG (from 270 kg to 760 kg) 1,64 kg/day, EUROP: U, 3+.
It has impact on the economic situation of beef farms as the price of the these by-products is at least 3 times lower than the prices of cereals. Secondly, introducing well digestible and very palatable starch into the feeding rations improve animal growth and carcass value (marbling).
The cookie plant is literally across the road it was quite easy to start with alternative feeds for my cattle. As the prices of cereals increased I had to find something that could replace them at much lower cost. The cookies crowbars made great change on the cost side of my business said Jack Orszulak, beef farmer.
Further information
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0923/Candy-cereal-cookies-Farmers-keep-cows-going-on-creative-feed-alternatives