Newsletters

December, 2005

FEEDING WET CORN MILLING BYPRODUCTS
TO BEEF CATTLE

The supply of corn milling byproducts is increasing dramatically, especially in Minnesota and Iowa. Two types of milling processes currently exist, resulting in different feed products from each system. The dry milling process produces distillers grains with or without solubles. The wet milling process produces wet corn gluten feed. Both processes can produce either wet or dry product. The majority of plant expansions are dry milling plants. This article will focus on distillers grains plus solubles. The dry milling process removes starch from the corn kernels. That takes about 2/3 of the dry matter out of each kernel. The remaining 1/3 dry matter is then about 3 times more concentrated in the remaining nutrients. For example if corn is about 4% oil (fat) the resulting distillers grains plus solubles will be about 12% oil. An exception to the "three-fold" rule is sulfur content. Corn has about 0.10% whereas distillers grains have up to 1%. The reason for the increased sulfur content is in the extraction process, and is the result of the addition of sulfuric acid to stop the fermentation process.

Most trials with wet corn distillers grains compared to corn grain show the wet corn distillers grains producing improved feed efficiencies in beef cattle. The energy value of wet corn distillers grains is approximately 130 to 150% of corn. As the distance from the plant to the feedlot increases the value of wet distillers grains decreases. Price, cattle performance, distance from the plant and corn price all influence the optimum economic inclusion rate. Wet corn gluten feed is usually calculated at 100 to 108% of the energy value of dry rolled corn.
Since Corn distillers byproducts reduce the incidence of acidosis in feedlot cattle, it well may be possible to reduce the amount of other byproducts used to add fiber to the overall diet. It appears that roughage can be reduced, or eliminated, in dry rolled corn diets that include 35% or more wet corn distillers plus solubles. There is no data available that addresses roughage levels for wet corn distillers alone.

As the ethanol industry evolves there may well be a bigger variety of byproducts available to the feedlot industry.

REF: Feeding of Wet Corn Milling Byproducts to Beef Cattle; G.E. Erickson, et al; 2005 Minnesota Nutrition Conference Proceedings; Pages 69-79.
Preservation and Feeding of Wet Distillers Grains to Dairy Cattle; Alvaro D. Garcia; 2005 Minnesota Nutrition Conference Proceedings; Page 235.

CORN GRAIN PROCESSING
AND DIGESTION

Grains are fed to livestock to supply energy. The major energy source in cereal grains is starch. To maximize digestion corn and sorghum grain must be processed. Starch from finely ground grain is more fully digested, but finely ground grain can cause metabolic disorders in ruminants. Steam rolling or flaking and fermentation, rather than fine grinding, are used for ruminants to improve digestion of starch. For fermented corn grain with adequate moisture content and for adequately processed steam flaked corn, starch digestion usually exceeds 97%. Compared to dry rolled corn, steam flaking corn for feedlot cattle increases both ruminal and total tract starch disappearance, but shifted the site of starch digestion toward the rumen. However, if starch is digested in the small intestine, energy loss during ruminal fermentation as methane and heat of metabolism is avoided. Starch digestion from high moisture corn is quite high due to extensive starch disappearance both in the rumen and intestines. Whole dry corn that is not chewed, and escapes ruminal digestion has little value for ruminants. Diet composition, intake level, and ruminal passage rate can alter the site and extent of digestion. Increasing the quantity of protein decreased the ruminal starch disappearance. Increasing the amount of starch in the diet increased ruminal starch disappearance. Maximum total tract digestion of starch comes from diets rich in protein but low in NDF.

REF: Corn Grain Processing and Digestion; Fred Owens; 2006 Minnesota Nutrition Conference Proceedings; Pages 113-133.

DRIED DISTILLERS GRAIN WITH SOLUBLES
FEEDING VALUE FOR SWINE

Pork producers that are using high quality, golden colored corn DDGS in their swine diets, are currently adding it at a level of 10% in gestating and lactating sow diets, as well as grow-finish diets, and achieve excellent performance. Some pork producers also add high quality corn DDGS to nursery diets at a level of 5% for pigs weighing at least 15 pounds body weight with excellent results. Studies conducted at the University of Minnesota have demonstrated that higher levels of corn DDGS can be added to swine diets without compromising performance or carcass quality. These recommendations assume that high quality DDGS is free from mycotoxins and diets are formulated on a digestible amino acid and available phosphorus basis. The risk of mycotoxins in corn DDGS is very low because many ethanol plants monitor incoming corn for the presence of mycotoxins as part of their quality control program. Based upon these results the maximum recommended feeding level for high quality corn DDGS is swine diets are shown below.

Typical Analysis for High Quality
Corn DDGS (100% Dry Matter Basis)

The nutrient content of DDGS can vary by source and over time even within plants. Much of the variation can occur among varieties and geographic location where it is grown.

REF: Corn By-Product Diversity and Feeding Value to Non-Ruminants; Jerry Shurson et al; 2005 Minnesota Nutrition Conference Proceedings; Page 57.

WANT MORE INFORMATION
ON DISTILLERS GRAINS?

The University of Minnesota maintains an excellent site on distillers grains. The site address for it is: www.ddgs.umn.edu

 
For More Information
Contact:
Hormel Foods Corporation
Feed Division
1 Hormel Place
Austin, MN 55912
PH: 800-533-2228
Website: www.hormelfeeds.com