Where do unsold halloween pumpkins go? Cow farts! — Young spotted cow on a background of blue sky and pastures

Cows at Maple Lane Farms Dairy will feast on pumpkins from nearby Tim’s Pumpkin Patch, reports American Dairy Association North East

Pumpkin spice season is in full swing with pumpkin-flavored coffees, cereals, cookies, beer, yogurts and ice creams lining the shelves at grocery stores. And with pumpkin spice dog treats commercially available now, it’s no wonder that dairy cows also want a piece of the pie — pumpkin pie, that is. But their pumpkin spice season is just beginning.

Starting November 1^st, Tim’s Pumpkin Patch in Marietta began the process of hauling the remaining pumpkins from its 65-acre patch to nearby Maple Lane Farms Dairy for more than 1,000 dairy cows to consume.

“We put the leftover pumpkins in silage trucks and bring them up to our bunk silo,” said Erica Leubner, who co-owns Tim’s Pumpkin Patch with her husband, Tim, and their three daughters. “They get scooped up with the payloader and put into the mixer-wagon with the rest of their mixed feed.”

In addition to owning and operating Tim’s Pumpkin Patch, Tim runs Maple Lane Farms Dairy with his brother and sister.

“Most people do not realize that dairy farming is our main profession and that the pumpkin business was a side business that grew,” said Erica. “Everyone asks, ‘What do you do with all of the pumpkins that do not sell?’ This is my perfect opportunity to tell them about our dairy farm and how we feed pumpkins to our cows.”

Believe it or not, cows and pumpkins are a perfect pairing on multiple levels. First, because cows have four stomachs, it gives them the ability to digest foods – like leftover pumpkins – that humans cannot, ensuring that an entire patch of pumpkins won’t go to waste at the end of the season. It’s one of the many reasons cows are considered the “ultimate recyclers.”

In turn, the pumpkins provide many benefits to the cows and dairy farmers. Pumpkins are included in the cows’ feed, which also consists of corn silage, haylage and various grains – giving them a seasonal blend. The pumpkins serve as a good supplemental protein and energy source. Because of those nutritional benefits, the addition of pumpkins also helps to increase the cows’ milk production.

“One day Tim decided that he was going to start feeding pumpkins to the cows, and they devoured them,” said Erica. “The cows notice the difference in taste of the freshly chopped pumpkin. They crave it, they eat more of it.”

If you thought pumpkin was a year-round additive to the cows’ feed, it isn’t. Just like it is for the millions of Americans who have a short window to consume pumpkin spice everything, the cows’ pumpkin spice feed is also only available for a limited time.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.