Ethanol Co-Product Use in U.S. Cattle Feeding: Lessons Learned and Considerations

The byproducts of making ethanol, sweeteners, syrups, and oils used to be considered less valuable than the primary products. But the increased livestock-feed market for such byproducts in the past few years has switched that perception to one of the ethanol industry making grain-based “co-products” that have market value separate from the primary products. Co-products such as dried distiller’s grains, corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal, corn oil, solubles, and brewer’s grains have become economically viable components, along with traditional ingredients (such as corn, soybean meal, and urea), in feed rations. The co-products have limitations, such as variable moisture content, product availability, nutrient excesses or deficiencies, and nutrient variability. These limitations affect how they must be handled and stored and how much they cost feed buyers. Dried distiller’s grains are more amenable to pelleting and other bulk-handling methods than other co-products, which gives them an advantage in international markets.