Farmers with livestock will feed the pumpkins to their animals
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Ontario farms are asking people to donate leftover Halloween pumpkins.
John and Linda Dunk, who raise poultry, eggs, pork and beef at JL Farms in Tottenham, Ont., will be setting up a trailer at the end of their Concession Road #7 driveway this weekend for people to drop off the pumpkins.
In Kitchener, Ont., for example, Steckle Heritage Farm is accepting pumpkins with no paint, wax or marker on them until Nov. 4.
The heritage farm’s goal is to collect 400 pumpkins, which can help feed the animals until Christmas.
““The horses, the cows, the donkey, the sheep and even Renee our lama – they all love them,” Christopher Jupp, executive director of Steckle Heritage Farm, told CTV News. “And it’s great nutrients for them and it helps supplement their diet. So, we’re very thankful to the community for coming along and donating their pumpkins for us.”
And in Tottenham, Ont., John and Linda Dunk, who raise poultry, eggs, pork and beef at JL Farms will be setting up a trailer at the end of their Concession Road #7 driveway this weekend for people to drop off the pumpkins.
Indeed, pumpkins do provide valuable nutrients for livestock.
The popular Halloween decorations can be a good supplemental protein, the University of Nebraska says.
“The crude protein content tends to be between 14-17% on a dry matter basis and the in vitro digestibility (similar to total digestible nutrients or TDN) is 60-70%,” wrote Karla Jenkins, a cow/calf specialist with the university. “Pumpkins can make a good supplemental feed for dry pregnant cows in the fall or can be included as a component of a growing ration for calves.”