DDGS
Trials to Begin at Texas Tech University (11-07-03)
November 7 marks
the beginning of the Distillers Grains Trial at Texas Tech University
in Lubbock, Texas under the supervision of Dr. Mike Galyean. Wet distillers
grains have been transported from the Abengoa, Bioenergy plant in
York, Neb., for this trial. Abengoa Bioenergy supplied the distillers
grains to this project, and the National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) has partnered with them on the transportation costs for the
project.
“This trial is the culmination of many organizations working
together toward a common goal,” said NCGA Manager of Livestock
Information and Programs Tracy Snider. “When I was asked to
meet with this group in August, I was very excited for NCGA to have
an opportunity to participate in this large scale research program.
We had partnered before with National Grain Sorghum on the Southwest
Regional Distillers Grains Conference, and this is a great opportunity
to leverage our strengths together to promote a common good.”
In 2002, National Grain
Sorghum Producers was successful in appropriating monies from the
Federal Budget to research the use of distillers grains at universities
in the Southwest region of the United States. These funds were allocated
to the USDA-ARS (United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture
Research Station) in Buschland, Texas, who has coordinated the different
trial locations and researchers for this effort.
The Texas Tech study is
a Beef Cattle Finishing Performance Trial, which will examine treatments
of wet sorghum distillers grains and wet corn distillers grains in
beef diets. The significance of this research is that it is being
conducted in Texas and the two distillers grains are being tested
side by side.
“Testing feed products
in Texas, makes it more likely that Southwestern nutritionists will
adopt the use of this nutrient dense feed product in their region,
as it becomes more available.”
Trials are also scheduled
at New Mexico State University, Texas Agriculture Experiment Station,
and Kansas State University.
Last reviewed
November 7, 2003