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Distillers grains: Ethanol's untold storyMissouri In the ethanol discussion, one important factor is often overlooked. Distillers grains, a high protein feedstock produced in the corn-based ethanol process, is adding competitively priced feed into the supply chain for livestock producers. With today's technology, up to three gallons of ethanol can be produced from one bushel (56 pounds) of corn. Since ethanol fermentation only utilizes the starch portion of the corn kernel, approximately one-third (18 pounds) of that same bushel, is converted into distillers grains. High in protein, energy, vitamins and minerals, this nutritious feedstock is marketed to livestock producers as an economical and effective feed to help upgrade diets. Technology providers have also developed a process that creates additional food-grade products, thereby allowing the most valuable parts of the corn kernel to remain in the food chain. "We use approximately 100 million bushels of corn for ethanol production in Missouri, yet one-third of that corn comes back into the food chain in the form of distillers grains," said Jayne Glosemeyer, retiring chairwoman for the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council. "Distillers grains really are ethanol's untold story." This year, Missouri is expected to increase distillers grains output with the addition of its sixth farmer-owned ethanol plant in Carrollton, Mo. Statewide production is estimated to reach the equivalent of 820,000 tons of distillers dried grains, adding to the supply of livestock feed in Missouri. According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture crop report, the ethanol industry will create the equivalent of one billion bushels of livestock feed nationwide this year in the form of 25.3 million metric tons of distillers grains and other co-products. This continued expansion of the ethanol industry and increased utilization of distillers grains in livestock rations is driving additional research of the feed alternative. "Continually incorporating new management practices and finding new feed sources can make or break a livestock operation," Glosemeyer said. "MCMC is using farmer investment through the use of checkoff dollars to aggressively work with producers who want to use distillers grains or are looking for ways to improve utilization of this ethanol co-product in their livestock operations." As a way to connect livestock producers with distillers grains, MCMC recently partnered with the Missouri Cattlemen's Association and the University of Nebraska to develop an informational publication explaining the various types of distillers grains, storage techniques and ration incorporation. To receive a copy, contact the Missouri Corn office at 800-827-4181 or click here to download a digital version. 9/22/08 Date: 9/17/08 Advertisement
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