1. Feeding Corn Co-products in Dairy Herds
David Anderson, Texas A&M University
C. Wilson Gray, University of Idaho

2. Overview Overview of DDGs Characteristics
Types of corn co-products
Challenges in Feeding corn co-products
Economics of corn co-products
Summary

3. For Starters… This Isn’t New Can’t Just Feed it Alone
Brewers and Distillers Grain have been fed forever
Can’t Just Feed it Alone
There aren’t many feeds you can feed exclusively
If Price is Right and We’ll Feed A Lot

4. Location, Location, Location…
Where’s the Feed?
Where are the Livestock?

5. This is a map from the National Corn Growers Association in June 2006
This is a map from the National Corn Growers Association in June The numbers are on the next page in larger font. Key message is that current production and expansion is in the corn growing areas, but proposed plants are beyond the corn belt. Where will they get the feedstock. The other factor is that this list is out of date.

6. Distiller’s Grain Basics

7. Key points on ethanol co-products
What types of products are available?
How much product can be used in the ration?
How different are the nutritional properties of specific co-products (low oil, low protein, modified moisture, mixtures)?
Which feed ration combinations work best?
Can the variation in some nutrients be reduced?
Source: Dan Loy, ISU

8. Types of DDG Processing
Wet Mill
Accounts for largest share & costly
Multiple Products:
high fructose sweetener, corn oil, ethanol
corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed and other types
Dry Grind
Generally smaller and less costly
Two Products:
Ethanol
Distillers Grain and Solubles

9. Wet Milling - Corn Gluten Feed
STEEP
CORN
GRIND
WASH WATER
SEPARATION
STARCH, SWEETNER, ALCOHOL
GLUTEN MEAL
CORN OIL
These mills tend to be very large and very expensive to build. ADM, Cargill and others have these plants. This process also has more flexibility on what is produced. The final product is corn gluten feed (wet or Dry). Corn gluten meal is also produced in small quantities and it often used in poultry rations.
STEEP
CORN BRAN
SEM, screenings, dist solubles
WET CORN GLUTEN FEED
DRY CORN GLUTEN FEED

10. Products of Wet Corn Milling
One bushel of corn produces:
Product Pounds
Starch
Further processed into 33# of sweetener or 2.5 gallons of ethanol
Gluten feed
Gluten meal
Corn meal

11. Corn Gluten Feed (CGF) Corn bran + steep Can be wet or dry
Moderate crude protein, CP = 16-23%
80% of CP is DIP (ruminally degradable)
Low fat, moderate fiber, TDN = 80
% of energy value of dry-rolled corn
Product variation is significant within and across plants due to amount of steep added back to the corn bran
Oatmeal-type appearance
This product is often marketed under a brand name by the company. For example, Sweet Brand.

12. Dry Milling - Distillers Grains+Solubles
CORN
GRIND, WET, COOK
FERMENTATION
YEAST, ENZYMES
STILL
ALCOHOL & CO2
Most of the recent plants built have been this technology. They are generally cheaper to build, but have less flexibility in ther product. They produce alcohol, CO2 and Distilers grains and solubles.
STILLAGE
DISTILLERS GRAINS
WDG, DDG
DISTILLERS SOLUBLES
WDGS
DDGS

13. Products of Dry Corn Milling
One bushel of corn produces:
Ethanol gallons
Distillers grains & solubles pounds
DGS are one third the weight of the corn and all but the starch is concentrated into this one-third
Sulfur is concentrated and may have been used in the fermenting process
Mycotoxins, if they existed in the corn are also concentrated 3:1

14. Distillers Grains + Solubles
Distillers Grains (65%) & Solubles (35%) (DM basis)
May be wet or dried
Higher crude protein, CP = 30%
65% UIP (undegraded, “bypass”, protein)
High fat (11%), TDN =
Concentrates nutrients 3-fold from corn
0.8% P, % Sulfur (variable)
Mashed potatoes-type appearance
Newer plants are more efficient and may produce up to 3 gallons per bushel of corn, but the amount of DDGS is still about pounds. Sulfur can be a problem when inclusion rates are relatively high. The main mycotoxin concern is aflotoxin and vomitoxin.

15. Nutrient Composition of Selected Corn Milling Co-Products

16. Starch Removal Concentrates - Other Nutrients
CGF - ???? Corn Gluten Feed
DGS – ???? Dried Grain Solubles or DDGS Dried Distillers Grain Solubles
Source: Dan Loy, ISU

17. Ruminant Energy Value of DDGS
Good Quality DDGS contains:
7-11% more energy than “book values”
10-20% more energy than corn
NEL = 1.00 Mcal/lb
NEM = 1.06 Mcal/lb
NEG = 0.73 Mcal/lb
TDN = 94%
DE = 1.84 Mcal/lb
ME = 1.64 Mcal/lb

18. Protein in Distiller’s Grains
30% of DM and more than old “book values”
Similar for DDG & DDGS
Good source of Ruminally Undegradable Protein (approximately 55% RUP)
RUP is slightly less for wet vs. dry DDG
Protein quality
Fairly good quality
Lysine is first limiting amino acid

19. How Much Can be Fed to Dairy Cows?
Max. of ~ 20% of ration DM
lb/d of dried
lb/d of wet
Usually no palatability problem at 30% of DM:
May decrease DMI, especially if Wet CDG
May feed excess protein
At > 30% of DM
May negatively impact butterfat and protein in milk
Calves
Up to 20% DMI
Replacement Heifers
Up to 25% DMI
Source: Shurson, U of MN

20. Challenges

21. Challenges of DDGS Storage and handling is more costly
High levels of feeding management is required
Bunk management and mixing
Nutrient balances
Nutrient (manure) management is more costly
Some nutrients are concentrated (e.g., P)
Source: Dan Loy, ISU

22. Challenges of DDGS Must be golden brown Flowability Pellet quality
Dark brown is over heated and ties up lysine
Flowability
Pellet quality
Requires another bin for storage
Abrupt changes may put cows off-feed

23. Challenges of DDGS Wet vs. Dry Distiller’s Grains for Dairy Cows
Nutrient content of DM is the same
Wet Distiller’s Grains Considerations
Usual storage period is 5-7 days
May require preservatives (e.g. propionic acid)
Limited hauling distance
May make rations too wet
Limits total DM intake especially when silages are used

24. Storing Wet DGS Storing Wet DGS product:
Often delivered in truck load lots
Can store wet DGS in bunker, silage bag or in pile covered with plastic to protect from air
Should mix with tub-ground forage and sotred in bunker or bag
Need to have the “mix: right….

25. Economics: A Little Supply and Demand

26. U.S. Distillers Grain Production

27. Potential DDG Usage Species Limit % Use b/lbs Fed Cattle 35 28.9
Cows/Stockers
4.0
Dairy 10
15.0
Hogs
9.0
Sows 15
3.0
Broilers
13.0
Turkeys
1.6
Total
74.5
Note: Use b/lbs is usage in billion pounds

28. Distillers Grain Production & Use
Potential Use
Realistic Use

29. Ratio of Corn to DDGS Prices Ratio of Dollars per Pound, Central Illinois DDGS and Texas Triangle Corn

30. Economic impact of including DGS
Source: Garcia & Taylor, SDSU

31. Interactions – Economic Realities
Higher Feed Costs
Byproducts offer some price mitigation
Markets Respond Through Price
Feeder cattle and calf prices
Reduced Production
Lower milk production per cow, producers exit industry
Livestock Industry Less Competitive
World market, regionally in U.S.
Higher Food Costs for Consumers
Transitional Period is Critical
Supply response, energy, technology, food and feed markets

32. Summary Use in Moderation
There are limits
DDGS can be superior to corn
WDGS are better than DDGS
Challenges are manageable
Distiller’s grains are not as cheap as once was
Price moves directly with corn prices
Use can reduce ration costs