Feedstock makes a difference in feeding distiller's grains

“So what our observations are showing us is there are large variations in the energy value of distiller’s grains derived from different cereal grain sources, similar to the differences in energy values of the cereal grains themselves,” MacDonald said.

There will be a place for all of the different types of distiller’s grains produced, but the producer needs to know what the energy value is and the product needs to be priced appropriately, he said.

“Additionally, our work with distiller’s grains in different corn processing methods would indicate producers are able to retain the energetic advantage of flaking corn in diets containing distiller’s grains,” he said.

For decades, feed yards in the Southern Plains have flaked corn to increase the amount of energy, MacDonald said.

He said the question was, ‘”If you add distiller’s grains to the diet, will there still be an advantage to flaking the corn?” His research shows there is still an advantage.

MacDonald said another important thing for producers to understand is that distiller’s grains from each plant may be different, so it is important to have a relationship with the provider of distiller’s grains.

“Make sure they are willing to make you aware if they are making any changes to the process,” he said.

Data is being developed by MacDonald and other researchers concerning the effects of changes in the distiller’s grain processing.

“The more they understand what goes on in that ethanol plant, the better chance they’ll have of accurately valuing the product,” he said. “Clearly the most important question is what cereal grain is being used. But they also need to know about control measures for things like sulfur content and are the solubles being added back at a consistent rate.”

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