Food Scrap Management

Food Diversion Through Animal Feed

Animals Need Food, Too

Does your business or institution dispose of bakery or food preparation wastes, or post-consumer food scraps that might be used as animal feed?

Diverting food scraps to animal feed can help food generators by:

• Decreasing disposal costs.
• Assisting local governments in meeting mandated waste reduction goals.
• Earning payment for food residuals.
• Enhancing food generators’ public image.
• Supporting local farmers, dairies, or livestock producers.

The two main ways to divert food to animal feed are (1) direct feed to animals, and (2) converting residuals to a grain supplement, which is then fed to animals.

Food scraps include anything from plate scrapings (postconsumer) to produce culls to food processing waste (preconsumer). Key factors in deciding whether this diversion option works for you are the quality of the food residuals, rate of generation, and existence of animal feed operations in your area appropriate for the type of food scraps generated.

Animal feed can be a viable option if a significant quantity of food residuals is generated on a regular basis and storage space is available to keep the material fresh until it can be transported.

Direct Feed to Animals

While care must be taken to prevent the spread of diseases such as swine fever, Exotic Newcastle disease, and Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE), also known as "Mad Cow Disease" (BSE update), farmers and ranchers can supplement their livestock’s diet with the right type of food scraps, given a consistent supply. Food material generators and farmers or ranchers often have an informal arrangement. The generator must find a farmer willing to take the food scraps.

Hogs Are Swine By Me

Some hog farmers participate in the "Garbage Feeding Program" administered jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). This program requires the farmers to have a license and submit to regular inspections. The collector must heat-treat all post consumer food scraps and food scraps that have been in contact with meat scraps. At a minimum, the materials must be heated to 212 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes prior to feeding it to swine.  Some counties have additional requirements.

This heat treatment prevents potential transmission of disease such as Trichonella, enteric coliform bacteria, swine fever, and foot and mouth disease. Food scrap generators should verify licensing prior to making arrangements with any hog farmer. Licensing is obtained through the CDFA at a cost of $20 per year and includes a booklet that describes how to set up a heating or steaming system.

For more information and applications, contact:

CDFA, Animal Health Branch
1220 N Street, Room A107
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 654-1447

To locate a licensed hog farmer in your area, call the CDFA Animal Health Branch at (916) 654-1447 and ask for the contact information for the State Veterinarian in your region contact your County Agricultural Commissioner's office.

Four Stomachs Are Better Than One

Cattle, sheep, and other ruminants are more restricted in what they can eat; many dairy farmers or ranchers will accept only certain types of food residuals as a feed supplement. Pre-consumer vegetable material, such as produce culls or a fruit or vegetable processing byproduct, may be suitable for a local farm or ranch. Some types of food scraps which can be fed directly to ruminants are not acceptable to cattle. To prevent the transmission of disease, ruminants should not be fed anything containing mammalian flesh. Also, certain vegetables such as onions or garlic are known to taint the flavor of milk from dairy cows.

Contact a local dairy farmer, sheep rancher, or cattle rancher (or their animal nutritionist) to determine if your food scraps are appropriate for ruminants.

Poultry and Other Flying Objects

Chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese love most fresh foods and have a broad diet. They can eat spaghetti with tomato sauce, steamed brown rice, grapes, fresh greens and lettuce, chopped cooked potatoes, corncobs, apple cores, whole grain bread, raw tomatoes, and their own eggs hard-boiled, including the ground shells. Kelp or blood meal are good sources of needed minerals. Any egg, meat, blood, or feather meal must be cooked to prevent the spread of disease. It is important to note that chickens should be fed fresh, preconsumer foods, not plate scrapings or foods that have spoiled.

Exotic Animals

Exotic or less common animals at zoos and specialty farms may be potential consumers of unwanted food residuals. Some exotic animals have diets that allow them to eat foods unsuitable for traditional farm animals, such as citrus fruits. Check with local farms and zoos to see if the material you have is suited for these animals.

Locating an Interested Livestock Farmer

To locate other on-farm options, look in the Yellow Pages for the local University of California Agricultural Extension Office, or contact your County Agricultural Commissioner's office.

Feed Manufacturers

Ever wonder what animal feed is made of? While most feed is made from agricultural crops such as alfalfa, corn, wheat, soy, and rice, some also contains food residuals from large bakeries, food processing plants, rendering plants, and sometimes even candy factories.

Animal feed manufacturers that use food residuals combine foods to make a "recipe" that is appropriate for specific animals. If the supplier has a surplus that is high in proteins and/or carbohydrates, there is a chance they may receive payment for the material. Bakery wastes in particular are of interest to many animal feed manufacturers, as well as other dry, high-protein and/or carbohydrate materials.

For more information regarding feed manufacturers, please call:

California Grain and Feed Association
1521 I St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 441-2272

Prevent Spread of Diseases

Not all food residuals are suitable for animals. For example, no vessel or aircraft waste, whether it is foreign or domestic in origin, should ever be fed to livestock. Serious animal diseases are spread by this illegal practice. As mentioned above, ruminants should not be fed anything containing mammalian protein due to the risk of BSE ("Mad Cow Disease"). Also, all animal products should be cooked to prevent the spread of other diseases such as Salmonella, Trichonella, and Exotic Newcastle Disease.

Rendering

If you have excess grease or uncooked meat, bone or animal blood, contact a local renderer for collection. These companies collect and process these materials into feedstock for a variety of products, usually for a small fee. Improper disposal of grease can cause many environmental problems and is a leading cause of beach closures. Rendering companies are listed in the Yellow Pages under "rendering" or "grease collection." More resources are described on CIWMB's rendering services webpage.

Other Resources

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provides information on its role in animal health and welfare, plant health, biotechnology, and more.