"lost calories" as if having people consume animal feed to reduce total caloric loss is a good idea.

What's the matter, honey? You've barely touched your corn in canola oil.

Exactly. A major problem with the usefulness of these studies (many of which make it into major journals) is that they seldom account for the fact that a lot of animal feed and human food sources do not compete with each other. For example, cattle are fed processed corn stocks and leaves after the cobs are removed. Corn stalks and leaves would otherwise rot if not consumed by livestock. Cows do not compete with humans for this calorie source.