Study Confirms Value of DDGS to Livestock Industry, NCGA Notes (5-24-04)
The preliminary results
of a University of Illinois study reveal farmers can increase the value of
livestock and
cut feed costs by raising the percentage
of distillers dried grains (DDGS) used in their feed, the National Corn Growers
Association (NCGA) notes. The study, scheduled for completion next month, proves
that combining DDGS with other feed – such as soybean meal, corn or silage – is
a viable method for enhancing the protein and energy in an animal’s diet.
“The DDGS produced by ethanol plants are an excellent source of energy,
digestible amino acids and phosphorus for cattle, swine and poultry diets,” said
Tracy Snider, NCGA Manager of livestock information and programs. “This
study confirms what we’ve known all along – DDGS are an excellent
economical source of nutrition for livestock.”
The authors of the study also suggest using DDGS are likely to help cattle
producers cut their feed costs while maintaining the quality of their animals.
DDGS can replace soybean meal at a lower cost, according to the study.
Increasing the amount of DDGS in
a cow’s diet is expected to become
more economically feasible as ethanol production increases in the United States,
the study says. More than 5.5 million tons of DDGS were produced in the United
States last year, an increase of 77 percent over the previous year.
Industry figures show 18 more ethanol
plants are expected to begin production this year or in 2005, bringing an
additional 2.2 million tons of DDGS into
the marketplace. Jerry Larson, a Minnesota grower and member of NCGA’s
Research and Business Development Action Team, noted state checkoff programs
have been instrumental in developing markets for DDGS.
“DDGS are here to stay, and as ethanol production continues to increase,
we’re going to see markets for coproducts expand significantly,” Larson
said. “Corn growers really have their checkoffs to thank for the success
of DDGS. Through checkoff-funded promotion and research efforts, growers have
established a substantial market for DDGS. And as this study suggests, the
future of DDGS is extremely bright.”