David Anderson, Texas A&M University

C. Wilson Gray, University of Idaho

Feeding Corn Co-productsin Dairy Herds

Overview

• Overview of DDGs Characteristics

– Types of corn co-products

– Challenges in Feeding corn co-products

• Economics of corn co-products

• Summary

For Starters…

• This Isn’t New– 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

Location, Location, Location…

• Where’s the Feed?

• Where are the Livestock?

Distiller’s Grain Basics

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

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

Wet Milling - Corn Gluten Feed

CORNSTEEP

WASH WATERGRIND

SEPARATION

WET CORN GLUTEN FEED

STARCH, SWEETNER, ALCOHOLGLUTEN MEALCORN OIL

STEEP CORN BRAN

DRY CORN GLUTEN FEED

SEM, screenings, dist solubles

Products of Wet Corn Milling

• One bushel of corn produces:

Product Pounds

– Starch 31.5 Further processed into 33# of sweetener or 2.5 gallons of

ethanol

– Gluten feed 13.5

– Gluten meal 2.5

– Corn meal 1.6

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

• 101-115% 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

Dry Milling - Distillers Grains+SolublesCORN

GRIND, WET, COOK

FERMENTATION

YEAST, ENZYMES

STILL ALCOHOL & CO2

STILLAGE

DISTILLERS GRAINSWDG, DDG

DISTILLERS SOLUBLESWDGSDDGS

Products of Dry Corn Milling

• One bushel of corn produces:

– Ethanol 2.7 gallons– Distillers grains & solubles 17-18

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

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 = 70-110

• Concentrates nutrients 3-fold from corn– 0.8% P, 0.35-1.0% Sulfur (variable)

• Mashed potatoes-type appearance

Nutrient Composition of Selected Corn Milling Co-Products

Starch Removal Concentrates - Other Nutrients

0

100

200

300

400

500

Protein NDF Starch Fat P K S

Nutrient

% of Corn Grain

CGF

DGS

Source: Dan Loy, ISU

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

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

How Much Can be Fed to Dairy Cows?

• Max. of ~ 20% of ration DM- 10-13 lb/d of dried- 30-40 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

Challenges

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

Challenges of DDGS

• Must be golden brown

– Dark brown is over heated and ties up lysine

• Flowability

• Pellet quality

• Requires another bin for storage

• Abrupt changes may put cows off-feed

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

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….

Economics: A Little Supply and Demand

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

1,000 tons

U.S. Distillers Grain Production

Potential DDG Usage

Species Limit % Use b/lbsFed Cattle 35 28.9

Cows/Stockers 4.0

Dairy 10 15.0

Hogs 10 9.0

Sows 15 3.0

Broilers 10 13.0

Turkeys 10 1.6

Total 74.5

Note: Use b/lbs is usage in billion pounds

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

1981

/82

1983

/84

1985

/86

1987

/88

1989

/90

1991

/92

1993

/94

1995

/96

1997

/98

1999

/00

2001

/02

2003

/04

2005

/06

2007

/08

2009

/10

2011

/12

1,000 tons

Realistic Use

Potential Use

Distillers Grain Production & Use

0.8

0.9

1

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.6

1/5/2

006

2/5/2

006

3/5/2

006

4/5/2

006

5/5/2

006

6/5/2

006

7/5/2

006

8/5/2

006

9/5/2

006

10/5

/200

6

11/5

/200

6

12/5

/200

6

1/5/2

007

2/5/2

007

Ratio of Corn to DDGS PricesRatio of Dollars per Pound, Central Illinois DDGS and Texas Triangle

Corn

Economic impact of including DGS Distillers Value of Income grains Feed milk over Protein Phosphorus

Milk % diet cost produced feed costs lbs DM 53 0 1.88 6.36 4.48 0.2 0.0 53 10 1.78 6.36 4.58 0.0 0.0 53 20 1.68 6.36 4.68 0.1 0.0 53 30 1.68 6.36 4.68 0.6 0.0

66 0 2.17 7.92 5.75 0.1 0.0 66 10 2.06 7.92 5.86 0.0 0.0 66 20 1.96 7.92 5.96 0.0 0.0 66 30 1.92 7.92 6.00 0.2 0.0

79 0 2.45 9.48 7.03 0.0 0.0 79 10 2.35 9.48 7.13 0.0 0.0 79 20 2.24 9.48 7.24 0.0 0.0 79 30 2.16 9.48 7.32 0.0 0.0

DDG $90/T; Corn $2.30/BU; SBM $185/T; Limestone $7.25/cwt; DicalPhos $20/cwt; corn silage $25/T;

Alf Haylage $45/T; Milk $12/cwt using SPARTAN

Excess of requirements, lb $/day

Source: Garcia & Taylor, SDSU

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

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