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International media
find our "cow chips of another kind"

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Dairy prof Jon Robison (below) recently discussed the subject of "cow chips" with BBC Radio, RTL German TV, KGO Radio (San Francisco), Associated Press Radio and all four TV network affiliates. For the cameras, senior Dario Avila (above) feeds the cows from a bag of Lay's. In actuality, the cows eat crushed industrial culls, mixed with other nutrients like alfalfa, corn, barley, and vitamins.

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Who says you can't eat just one ....They eat a ton! Potato chips, that is. Cows at the Fresno State Dairy are served up the salty snack on a daily basis. From barbecue to sour cream onion, each cow is fed about seven to ten pounds of potato chips per day.

Dr. Jon Robison (Animal Sciences) has fed dairy cattle numerous food industry by-products, including tortillas, cookies, fruits, spaghetti, macaroni and onions. Whether it's Oreo cookies or oranges, Robison knows the newest trends in bovine cuisine.

Though most people consider junk food unhealthy, Robison says the cows utilize carbohydrates and fat from these snacks, which provide them with extra energy.

"Cows don't have high cholesterol like people," said Dario Avila, a senior agricultural eduation major who works at the dairy. "They actually need the extra nutrients the alternative feed provides."

Robison explained that feeding potato chips actually makes the university's cows environmentally friendly. The food industry by-products like potato chips and macaroni would normally go into landfills. He said the feed is more easily digestible for the cattle, so it cuts down on waste and improves milk production.

 

Back to University Journal, 8/24/98 Issue