My uncle's cows got into a wheat field last year, ate wheat and they bloated up and some of them died. I asked my husband why that would happen, and his response is wheat is not fed to many farm animals, it is too hot for their digestive systems, meaning if they eat too much of it, it heats up their insides and can die.

A cow weighs anywhere from 500-1500 pounds. If an animal that big cannot digest wheat properly, then no wonder our small bodies can have problems with it.

This is kinda a weird topic, but I found it interesting.

That is very interesting. There have been a couple of times before I knew what was wrong with me that I had bloating that was almost scary. I don't even remember what I had eaten, but I was on some type of antibiotic, which may have made it worse. My abdomen swelled and swelled with gas over the course of an evening, and it was terribly painful. The only thing that helped it was when I got in our bathtub that has jets and turned the jets up to 'high' and just let them pound my abdomen. I was ready to go to the hospital. Anyhow, I can certainly see why those poor cows don't eat wheat.

Actually, cows DO eat wheat and barley. I think this is an urban myth. Perhaps they died from spoiled crops, pesticides, or dehydration?

P.S. The reason cows are on antibiotics is because they are often kept in filthy and confined spaces, and milking cows get sore and infected teats from constant milking. Believe me, if most people knew what went on in a slaughterhouse/ranch/dairy farm, they'd never eat meat or drink milk again. And yes, if you feed them too much of *any* grain (unatural to them) they *may* die. Just like humans will die if they eat too much of anything too.

My dad was the best feed man in our area, he mixed the feeds himself. He had his own recipes and yes, cattle feed does contain wheat, oats, barley--all those things we can't have anymore, including a few others. Maybe the cattle were sick because it was a green crop still, that is possible, anything is possible.

Now I realize I probably made myself sick many times just by being around our critters. We had chickens, rabbits, pygmy goats--lots of feed, hay, straw--all those allergens in the air, all that gluten to breathe in!!!!! Good thing I loved those critters!!!!

Cows aren't really designed to eat any grain, it is too acidic for them. However, cows are strictly grain fed. It makes them fatten up fast (does that to humans too). To counteract all the terrible things that happen to grain fed cow's rumen (stomachs) they give them loads of antibiotics to keep them alive. This highly acidic environment in their rumen has lead to the evolution of a new type of E. Coli bacteria that is able to endure the high acid environment of a normally ph neutral cow stomach (and the human intestinal tract). And that's the form of E. Coli that is causing problems for us now.

Here's a link to a NY times article about that:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/magazine...nyt&emc=rss

Oops, wrong article, this one is even better (they're both good actually)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/opinion/...1d0&ei=5070

Also yes, if you feed a cow a lot of wheat, they will die. However they're usually fed wheat mixed with other stuff.

We raise chickens. They love cracked corn, be we have to be careful not to give them too much because it is a "hot" food for them. Hot meaning that it raises their metabolism and increases their body heat. They can overheat if given too much, especially in the summer. Perhaps this is the same effect that your Uncle was talking about.

Very interesting I have never heard this. thanks for sharing.

Cows are ruminants, they ferment the food. It doesnt "heat up their insides" , they pig out, they bloat and can die.
Yes, if they over eat any grain - wheat or barley - it is "hot" (high energy) and creates rumen acidosis - commonly known as grain overload.
Feedlots feed a lot of grain and on the verge of acidosis all the time the way they are fed . They are fed this way to fatten them for slaughter.

In nature they consume grasses and legumes. Any food fed in excess will cause issues. If we ate fruit all the time - we'd get diarrhea. If we ate excess protein - we'd get constipated. We are the only animal who consumes milk after being weaned.
We were never meant to consume so much gluten - and processed food. The best foods that are naturally gluten free are the food that our ancestors ate. Potatoes, rice, corn, fruits in season, berries and nuts, meats (but not processed)............

Sandy

I think the problem with our gluten is a problem with science. Back when the indians learned how to make flour from corn and wheat, it was a different type of wheat then what we have now. "Enriched" is not such a good word when it is followed by the word "grain". I would be in trouble if all I could eat is the list of naturally gluten free foods above--I can't have potatoes, rice, corn, most nuts, some berries, and many meats.

It's true about we being the only animal that drinks milk after being weaned. My mom always used to say--milk is for baby calves, corn is for fattening hogs! I guess she is right huh!