United Dairymen of Arizona News

United Dairymen of Arizona

United Dairymen of Arizona News

From Brew To Moo!

By Roxy Helman - February 15, 2020

Ever wonder what happens to the shell (hull) from that bag of almonds you bought to snack on, or the beets after being broken down to make a bag of sugar for baking? The process of making the food we enjoy can lead to by-products that, although full of nutrients are inedible to humans, so are thrown away and sent to landfills.

For breweries, crafting beer accumulates a by-product when processing grains. After the starch has been steeped from the barley, what is left is a high protein, solid residue known as brewer’s grains, which happens to make great feed for ruminants, like cows. The brewer’s grain replaces the need for distiller’s grain (a by-product of the ethanol industry).

Over the years, breweries like Huss Brewing have partnered with a UDA dairy farm to recycle their brewer's grains. “Before our partnership with James Boyle Dairy we used a variety of different farmers, and at times of desperation, a dumpster to dispose of our grain. We’re proud to be able to use 100% of our by-product to contribute to feeding local families,” says Jeff Huss, co-owner of Huss Brewing Co.

James Boyle Dairy, in Casa Grande, Arizona has been using the brewer’s grains from local breweries as part of their feed ration for over a decade. “We love to work with local businesses and keep by-products out of landfills. Cows have such an amazing ability to convert inedible foods into nutritious products for humans. This recycling of nutrients is a sustainable way to feed the world.” Says Jim Boyle Jr, owner of James Boyle Dairy. 


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