Thousands of Skittles end up on an icy road. But just how they got there isn't the surprising part

A rural county in southeast Wisconsin had a candy, sticky thriller alongside a freeway earlier this week. A whole bunch of 1000's of purple Skittles have been discovered spilled on a highway in Dodge County.

"There is no little 'S' on them, however you may positively odor, it is a distinct Skittles odor," Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt informed CNN affiliate WISN.

Nobody knew the place the sweet got here from or the place it was going, however county highway crews mentioned the Skittles spill was really useful, because the roads within the space have been icy the previous couple of days and the 1000's of little candies improved traction.

In order that's one surprising silver lining from that mishap.

However the story will get higher.

The sheriff's division later discovered that the Skittles fell off a truck that was hauling the purple candies for use as cattle feed.

Sure, they're feeding sweet to cows -- they usually've been doing it for years.

A former farmer informed CNN affiliate WBAY that sweet makers and bakeries typically promote rejects for use as cattle feed as a result of they supply "low-cost carbs."

The observe goes again many years, but it surely picked up steam in 2012 when corn costs have been surging and cattle farmers have been in search of a less expensive strategy to preserve their cows and different livestock fed.

"(It) is an excellent method for producers to cut back feed price, and to supply cheaper meals for shoppers," mentioned Ki Fanning, a livestock nutritionist with Nice Plains Livestock Consulting, informed CNNMoney on the time.

Candy treats

OK, tremendous, however is mixing in castoff sweet, cookies or ice cream sprinkles within the hay fed to livestock wholesome for them? (And for us, since we eat them?)

"I feel it is a viable (food plan)," John Waller, an animal science professor on the College of Tennessee, informed Reside Science. "It retains fats materials from going out within the landfill, and it is a great way to get vitamins in these cattle. The choice could be to place (the sweet) in a landfill someplace."

Skittles for cows was a shock to of us up in Wisconsin who noticed the sheriff's division Fb submit concerning the roadway spill.

Some have been outraged about it.

"Completely gross!" wrote one commenter. "Why are we comfortable with feeding cows Skittles to fatten them up. Know the place your meat comes from folks. I hope you are all discovered one thing from this."

However one other commenter thought of the benefits.

"Strawberry skittles = Strawberry milk."