Since fall begins today, many of us are looking forward to enjoying apple cider, pumpkin spice lattes, and Halloween candy. However, just like everything else, there are by and waste products that result from the manufacturing or production of some of our favorite fall things.

The good news is that livestock are often the solution to this waste. Byproducts such as apple pomace, rejected candy, and cull pumpkins can be upcycled into feed stuffs for livestock, which use it to create protein for human consumption.

Several states have conducted research concerning feeding culled pumpkins to livestock. Learn more at Incorporating Cull Pumpkins into Livestock Diets, and Salvaging Leftover Pumpkins for Beef Cattle. 

Curious about how candy waste can be fed to cattle? Check out this article that explains more about it, following a Skittles truck accident in 2017. Do Cows Eat Skittles?

Want more information on how Extension is working to upcycle waste and byproducts? Check out this episode of NC State University CALS's podcast, Farms, Food, and You, which features several Extension specialists discussing past and future research.

Check out our TikTok about livestock upcycling!

Please contact N.C. Cooperative Extension of Stokes County at 336-593-8179 with any questions.