The large expansion of the ethanol industry that occurred since 2006 has increased the supply of co-products for the animal feed industry. Each metric ton of corn processed in dry mill plants yields close to 300 kg of distillers grains with or without solubles. Distillers grains, either dried or wet, with or without solubles, are the main feed co-products generated in the process, although other co-products such as condensed distillers solubles are also available in the market.
Distillers grains are a good source of protein (>30%; ~55% of protein is undegradable in rumen) and energy [(~ 0.9 Mcal net energy for lactation/lb. dry matter (DM)] for dairy cattle.
According to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), distillers grains produced by U.S. dry-mill plants increased close to three times between 2006 and 2016, with the production estimated to total 12.0 and 37.5 million metric tons, respectively, during these years. In 2016, distillers grains use rates were 30% for dairy and 44% for beef cattle (RFA, 2018).
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