Food waste can be staple in livestock diets

Kristen Sindelar
Jun 15, 2023
Jun 15, 2023

Food waste (2).jpg — Las Vegas Livestock uses scraps from the Las Vegas strip, warehouses and residences as the sole ration for their hog feed.
Submitted photo courtesy of Las Vegas Livestock

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

You may be familiar with the phrase “everything but the oink” in reference to all the byproducts that come from pork. But what about byproducts of human food waste?

kAm%96 >@56C? =:76DEJ=6 H6 6?;@J—7C@> 3F776ED E@ E96 32C D46?6—244F>F=2E6D =:E6C2==J E@?D @7 7@@5 H2DE6] #6uts[ 2 ?2E:@?2= ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@?[ 6DE:>2E6D E92E g_ >:==:@? E@?D @7 2== 7@@5 :? E96 &]$] 8@6D E@ H2DE6 56DE:?2E:@?D :?DE625 @7 36:?8 4@?DF>65]k^Am

Food waste (1).jpg — Las Vegas Livestock logo
Submitted photo

kAm{2D '682D {:G6DE@4< 92D E2<6? 25G2?E286 @7 E9:D AC@3=6> 3J C64J4=:?8 9F>2? 7@@5 D4C2AD 7C@> E96 {2D '682D DEC:A E@ 7665 E96:C A:8D]k^Am

kAm“|J 72>:=J 92D 366? 5@:?8 E9:D >@56= @7 7665:?8 7@@5 H2DE6 E@ 9@8D D:?46 `heb[” D2:5 $2C29 $E2==2C5[ {2D '682D {:G6DE@4< 72C> >2?286C 2?5 D6G6?E9\86?6C2E:@? 72C>6C]k^Am

kAmw6C 8C2?572E96C[ #@36CE r@>3D[ @C:8:?2E65 7C@> r9F=2 ':DE2[ r2=:7@C?:2[ 3FE 42>6 E@ E96 {2D '682D 2C62 DA64:7:42==J 3642FD6 96 <?6H E96 2>@F?E @7 7@@5 H2DE6[ D2:5 $E2==2C5] qF776ED H6C6 9:89=J A@AF=2C H96? 96 7:CDE 2CC:G65 :? E96 '2==6J e_ J62CD 28@] #@36CE =62C?65 E96 4@?46AE @7 7665:?8 7@@5 D4C2AD E@ 9@8D 7C@> 9:D 72E96C[ H9@ 925 4@==64E65 7@@5 H2DE6 7C@> 2 ?2G2= 32D6 :? r2=:7@C?:2 E@ 7665 9:D 9@8D]k^Am

kAm#@36CE @H?65 2?5 @A6C2E65 #r u2C>D 7C@> `heb F?E:= 4=@D:?8 :? y2?F2CJ a_`f] $@?D r=:?E 2?5 w2?< r@>3D E96? >@56C?:K65 E96 >@56=[ 368:??:?8 {2D '682D {:G6DE@4< :? 2 ?6H =@42E:@?] $@4:6E2= D9:7ED 92G6 492?865 H96C6 E96 7@@5 :D D@FC465 2?5 H92E EJA6D @7 7@@5 :D 4@==64E65[ 3FE E96 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 2?:>2= H6=72C6 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@?46C? C6>2:?D E96 D2>6 7@C E96 r@>3D 72>:=J]k^Am

kAm“(9:=6 3F776ED 92G6 364@>6 D=:89E=J =6DD A@AF=2C[ E96 56D:C6 7@C DFDE2:?23:=:EJ\5C:G6? 3FD:?6DD6D 92D C62==J :?4C62D65[” $E2==2C5 D2:5]k^Am

kAm{2D '682D {:G6DE@4< 92D 23@FE d[___ 76656C\E@\7:?:D9 9@8D] $E2==2C5 6DE:>2E6D b_ E@?D @7 H2DE6 :D AC@46DD65 2E E96:C @A6C2E:@? 52:=J] %9:D 244@F?ED 7@C @?=J 23@FE fT @7 E96 7@@5 H2DE6 {2D '682D 244F>F=2E6D A6C 52J]k^Am

kAm%96 7@@5 D4C2AD 2C6 D@FC465 2?5 56=:G6C65 3J r@>3D qC@E96CD {{r 7C@> 42D:?@D[ C6D@CED 2?5 9@E6=D[ 2D H6== 2D 2 92?57F= @7 8C@46CJ DE@C6D 2?5 H2C69@FD6D] {:<6H:D6[ E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }6G252 A2CE:4:A2E6D :? 2 E@E6 D6CG:46] x?5:G:5F2= 9@FD69@=5D 42? 2=D@ @AE :?E@ 2 3:\H66<=J 7@@5 D4C2A A:4<FA AC@8C2>]k^Am

kAm$:?46 >F49 @7 E96 7@@5 2CC:G6D DE:== A24<2865[ E96 42C53@2C5 :D 7:CDE D6A2C2E65 E@ 36 C64J4=65] %96? E96 H2DE6 :D 5F>A65 :?E@ 2 =2C86 9@AA6C[ H96C6 @C82?:4D W7@@5X 2C6 D6A2C2E65 7C@> :?@C82?:4D WA=2DE:4X] !255=6D AFD9 E96 7@@5 282:?DE 2 D:6G6 E@ DEC2:? :E[ E96? :E EC2G6=D E9C@F89 2 C@4< EC2A] p >28?6E 42E496D 2?J >6E2= 7C28>6?ED]k^Am

Food waste (4).jpg — This machine separates food scraps from inorganic materials, such as straws, gloves or other trash.
Submitted photo courtesy of Las Vegas Livestock

kAmx? 4@>A=:2?46 H:E9 E96 $H:?6 w62=E9 !C@E64E:@? p4E W$w!pX[ H9:49 C68F=2E6D E96 7665:?8 @7 9F>2? 7@@5 H2DE6 E@ A:8D[ E96 >:IEFC6 :D A2DE6FC:K65 7@C b_ >:?FE6D] $E62> :D AF>A65 :?E@ 2 ;24<6E E92E DFCC@F?5D 2 5CF> 4@?E2:?:?8 E96 7@@5] p7E6C 4@@=:?8[ :E :D =@2565 :?E@ ECF4<D 2?5 765 :>>65:2E6=J]k^Am

kAmpD J@F 42? :>28:?6[ E96 7665 92D 2 =:BF:5 4@?D:DE6?4J] %96 9@8D 2C6 9@FD65 2?5 765 @FED:56[ A2CE=J 3642FD6 E96 7665 C2E:@? :D D@ >6DDJ] %96 H66< @7 E96 :?E6CG:6H[ :46 4C62> H2D 2 =2C86 A@CE:@? @7 E96 C2E:@?]k^Am

kAm“r@>A2C65 E@ 2 D@J362? >62= >:IEFC6 E92E 9@8D 2C6 FD65 E@[ :E’D =:<6 D@FA @C 2 G6CJ H2E6CJ @2E>62=[” $E2==2C5 D2:5]k^Am

kAm}@ 255:E:@?2= 7665 @C DFAA=6>6?ED 2C6 25565] (:E9 E96 5:G6CD:7:65 D@FC46D 7@C 7@@5[ E96 C2E:@? AC@G:56D 4@>A=6E6 ?FEC:6?ED 2?5 AC@E6:?[ $E2==2C5 D2:5] #2E6 @7 82:? :D >@?:E@C65[ 2?5 “2D =@?8 2D E96 9@8D 2C6 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ 82:? @? E96 D2>6 D4965F=6” E96C6 :D ?@ ?665 7@C DFAA=6>6?E2= 7665 @C 492?86D :? E96 5:6E]k^Am

kAm%96 9@8D C6249 7:?:D9 H6:89E :? 7:G6 E@ D:I >@?E9D 2?5 2C6 E96? >2C<6E65 E@ r2=:7@C?:2] %JA:42==J[ @?6 8C@FA :D D@=5 A6C H66<]k^Am

Food waste (3).jpg — Open air structures are designed for maximum air flow to keep the hogs cool in the Nevada desert.
Submitted photo courtesy of Las Vegas Livestock

kAmq6:?8 :? E96 }6G252 56D6CE[ {2D '682D {:G6DE@4< 42? 9@FD6 E96 9@8D @FED:56 J62C\C@F?5] $9256 DECF4EFC6D 2C6 56D:8?65 E@ 6?4@FC286 2:C 7=@H] x? E96 H:?E6C >@?E9D[ >@3:=6 9@FD:?8 F?:ED AC@G:56 D96=E6C E@ 96=A AC6G6?E A?6F>@?:2 :? D>2==6C A:8D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
Divine intent of creation respected
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Defend Digestive Function to Protect Profitability
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Farmers visit Mexico ahead of USMCA talks
Social media talk burns my britches
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture

kAmq642FD6 E96 9@8D 2C6 @FE5@@CD[ E96J ?2EFC2==J 92G6 E@ 36 2 =:EE=6C 92C5:6C E92? E9@D6 C2:D65 :? 4@?7:?6>6?E D6EE:?8D] %9:D :D @?6 @7 E96 C62D@?D {2D '682D {:G6DE@4< =:<6D E@ D@FC46 E96:C 76656C A:8D 7C@> E96 &]$] |62E 2?5 p?:>2= #6D62C49 r6?E6C W&$|p#rX :? r=2J r6?E6C[ }63C2D<2]k^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 366? C62==J 92AAJ H:E9 E96 9@8D 7C@> E96 46?E6C] %96J 2=H2JD D6?5 E96> 2E 2 ?:46 D:K6[” $E2==2C5 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 9@8D H6:89 2AAC@I:>2E6=J e_ A@F?5D FA@? 2CC:G2=] p55:E:@?2==J[ E96 9@8D 92G6 366? G244:?2E65 282:?DE 5:D62D6[ 2?@E96C :>A@CE2?E 2DA64E H96? C2:D:?8 E96> @FE5@@CD[ D2:5 $E2==2C5]k^Am

kAmq:@D64FC:EJ :D 2?@E96C 4@?D:56C2E:@? $E2==2C5 E2<6D G6CJ D6C:@FD=J[ D2J:?8[ “x ECJ E@ 86E 8C@FAD @7 e__ :? @?6 A6?] x 5@?’E =:<6 E@ >:I D@FC46D :? @?6 A6? 7@C 962=E9 C62D@?D]”k^Am

kAm&$|p#r 42? DFAA=J E96 e__\9625 @7 76656C A:8D ?66565 >@?E9=J 7@C @?6 A6?]k^Am

Food waste (5).jpg — Las Vegas Livestock raises approximately 5,000 feeder pigs to finish weight at their facilities close to Las Vegas, Nev.
Submitted photo courtesy of Las Vegas Livestock

kAm{2D '682D {:G6DE@4< C6AC6D6?ED 2 D>2== A6C46?E286 @7 9@8 AC@5F46CD E92E FD6 9F>2? 7@@5 H2DE6 2D 2 >2:? D@FC46 7@C 7665] $E2==2C5 ?6EH@C<D H:E9 AC@5F46CD 7C@> r@??64E:4FE[ w2H2:: 2?5 r2?252[ 3FE ?@E65 :E :D “?@E 2D H:56=J AC24E:465 2D :E @?46 H2D]” !2CE @7 E9:D :D 3642FD6 $w!p AC@9:3:ED af DE2E6D 7C@> 7665:?8 9F>2? 7@@5 H2DE6 E@ 9@8D] x? E96 |:5H6DE[ E9:D :?4=F56D }63C2D<2[ z2?D2D[ x@H2[ }@CE9 s2<@E2 2?5 $@FE9 s2<@E2] w@H6G6C[ :?5:G:5F2=D 2C6 6I6>AE :7 7665:?8 E96:C @H? 2?:>2=D]k^Am

kAm%@ $E2==2C5[ 564C62D:?8 7665 4@DE 3J DFAA=6>6?E:?8 @C 4@>A=6E6=J C6A=24:?8 7665 C2E:@?D H:E9 9F>2? 7@@5 H2DE6 :D 2 4@DE\67764E:G6 2?5 C6DA@?D:3=6 H2J E@ 7665 =:G6DE@4<]k^Am

kAm“tG6? :7 J@F’C6 ?@E 7665:?8 `__T =:<6 H6 2C6[ :E’D 2 8C62E H2J E@ 4FE 7665 4@DE[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm$@>6 3FD:?6DD6D >2J 36 =@@<:?8 7@C 2? @FE=6E 7@C 7@@5 D4C2AD 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 36:?8 E2I65 2 AC6>:F> 3J =2?57:==D 7@C 5:DA@D:?8 H2DE6]k^Am

kAm|2?J 4@>A2?:6D @AE E@ 5@?2E6 =67E@G6C 7@@5 E@ >:DD:@?D @C D6== 6IA:C65 AC@5F4ED 2E 2 C65F465 AC:46[ 3FE ?@E 2== :?5FDEC:6D 92G6 E9:D @AE:@?] qC6H6C:6D 2C6 =67E H:E9 DA6?E 8C2:?D 7C@> AC@46DD:?8 E96 32C=6J[ H962E @C @2ED FD65 E@ >2<6 2=4@9@=]k^Am

kAm“$A6?E 8C2:? :D @FC 3:886DE 3JAC@5F4E @7 366C[” D2:5 %9@>2D (28?6C[ 9625 3C6H6C 2E zC@D $EC2:? qC6H:?8 r@>A2?J]k^Am

kAmtDE23=:D965 :? a_`f[ zC@D $EC2:? 92D EH@ E2AC@@> =@42E:@?D[ @?6 :? {2 ':DE2 2?5 E96 @E96C :? 5@H?E@H? ~>292] %96 AC@5F4E:@? 724:=:EJ :D =@42E65 :? {2 ':DE2] %96J 5:DEC:3FE6 366C E@ }63C2D<2[ x@H2[ $@FE9 s2<@E2 2?5 z2?D2D]k^Am

kAm%@ <66A FA H:E9 56>2?5[ zC@D $EC2:? 3C6HD @G6C e[d__ 32CC6=D @7 366C 2 J62C[ E96 6BF:G2=6?E @7 a_`[d__ 82==@?D] %9:D C6BF:C6D 36EH66? b[b__ 2?5 `e[d__ A@F?5D @7 5CJ 8C2:? A6C H66<] %96 >2;@C:EJ :D 8C@H? :? E96 &]$][ 3FE E96J 2=D@ :>A@CE 8C2:? 7C@> v6C>2?J 2?5 E96 &?:E65 z:?85@>]k^Am

kAm(28?6C 6IA=2:?65 9@H >2=E 4@>A2?:6D AC@46DD E96 8C2:? 3J 7:CDE D@2<:?8 :E :? H2E6C E@ :?:E:2E6 86C>:?2E:@? 2?5 6?4@FC286 E96 7@C>2E:@? @7 6?KJ>6D “4CF4:2= E@ E96 3C6H:?8 AC@46DD]” %96 32C=6J :D E96? 5C:65 2?5 <:=?65 @C C@2DE65]k^Am

kAm%@ 6?23=6 E96 6?KJ>6D H:E9:? E96 >2=E E@ 4@?G6CE DE2C49 E@ DF82CD[ E96 4CFD965 8C2:? :D DE66A65 :? 9@E H2E6C] %96 3C6H6C 4@==64ED E96 DF82CJ H2E6C[ 42==65 H@CE[ 2?5 :D =67E H:E9 DA6?E 8C2:?]k^Am

kAms6DA:E6 E96 ?2>6[ E9:D 3JAC@5F4E 4@?E2:?D 7:36C[ AC@E6:? 2?5 D6G6C2= >:?6C2=D 6DD6?E:2= 7@C =:G6DE@4< 8C@HE9] %96 4CFD965[ >@:DE 8C2:? :D 2=D@ A2=2E23=6 E@ =:G6DE@4<]k^Am

kAm%96 DA6?E 8C2:?D 7C@> zC@D $EC2:? 2C6 A:4<65 FA 3J 2 72C>6C 7C@> x@H2[ D2:5 (28?6C[ 255:?8[ “xE :D >FEF2==J 36?67:4:2=[ 2D E96 72C>6C 86ED 7665 2?5 H6 92G6 2 C6DA@?D:3=6 H2J E@ 5:DA@D6 @7 :E]”k^Am

kAmu656C2= C68F=2E:@?D C682C5:?8 CF>:?2?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 42EE=6[ D966A 2?5 8@2ED[ 5:776C 7C@> DH:?6] u665:?8 CF>:?2?ED :? E96 >2??6C E92E {2D '682D {:G6DE@4< 5@6D H@F=5 C6BF:C6 255:E:@?2= D@CE:?8[ 2D E96 #F>:?2?E u665 q2? #F=6 “AC@9:3:ED E96 FD6 @7 >2>>2=:2? AC@E6:? W:]6] 2?:>2= E:DDF6[ DF49 2D 3667 @C A@C<X :? 2?:>2= 7665 7@C 2== CF>:?2?E 2?:>2=D[” 2D DE2E65 @? E96 #6uts H63D:E6] qFE 7665:?8 CF>:?2?ED G686E23=6D[ 8C2:?D 2?5 @E96C 3JAC@5F4ED ?@E 4@?DF>65 H:E9:? E96 9F>2? 7@@5 :?5FDECJ :D 2 A@DD:3:=:EJ]k^Am

kAmuC@> E96 {2D '682D DEC:A E@ E96 3C6H6CJ :? J@FC ?6:893@C9@@5[ 7@@5 H2DE6 :D A2CE @7 >@56C? 52J 7@@5 AC@5F4E:@?] %92E 5@6D ?@E >62? E92E A6@A=6 2C6 ?@E 86EE:?8 4C62E:G6 :? 9@H E96J 562= H:E9 E9:D 3JAC@5F4E @7 9F>2? 7@@5 4@?DF>AE:@?]k^Am

kAm“u665:?8 7@@5 H2DE6 :D DF49 2 8@@5 H2J E@ DFDE2:?23=J C64J4=6 7@@5 H2DE6[ H9:49 :D 2 9F86 AC@3=6>[” $E2==2C5 D2:5]k^Am

Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.