Here are some questions and answers about distillers feeds.

Where can I buy distillers feed.pdf

What are my options for distillers feed?
Thin stillage or "sweet water" - liquid removed from the mash produced during the creation of ethanol; can be sold directly as livestock feed.

Condensed distillers solubles or "syrup"- dehydrated thin stillage; can be sold directly as cattle feed or blended with distillers grains to produce distillers grains plus solubles.

Wet distillers grain - the solid part of the mash produced during the creation of ethanol.

Dried distillers grain - dehydrated wet distillers grain.

Distillers grains plus solubles - a combination of distillers grains and condensed distillers solubles;
sold in wet (30 percent dry matter), modified (50 percent dry matter) or dry (90 percent dry matter) forms.

What is the nutrient content of distillers feed?
Distillers grains with or without solubles are a medium protein feed and can be fed as a replacement for other protein sources (such as soybean meal, sunflower meal, urea, etc.) in beef cattle diets. In addition to protein, distillers grains contain highly digestible fiber and fat, resulting in a similar to slightly higher energy value than corn. Besides the nutritional benefits of distiller’s grains in feedlot diets, the moisture contained in wet distillers grain (WDG) helps to condition dry rations.

When feeding distillers grains, keep in mind how the mineral concentrations of the diets are affected. Distillers grains are low in calcium (Ca) but high in phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S). Feeding distillers grains may provide enough P to allow supplemental P sources to be removed from mineral packages for cattle consuming forage-based diets. Feedlot diets generally contain excess P due to the high levels of corn, so, when distillers co-products are utilized, the additional P must be considered when formulating waste management plans. Also, to facilitate proper performance and to avoid urinary calculi (water belly), Ca to P ratios should be equal to or greater than 1.2:1 but not greater than 7:1. Supplemental Ca can be provided from feedstuffs high in Ca (alfalfa), but it is more commonly supplemented as limestone.

Who should use distillers feed?
Anyone who finds it feasible. Some things to take into consideration when deciding if distillers feed is economical for you include:

• Distance from an outlet.

• Cost of freight.

• Nutrition needs.

• Storage costs.

You can talk to your South Dakota State University Extension educator or one of the representatives at a distillers feed company to help you make the best decision for you and your business.

When is distillers feed available?
You can purchase distiller’s feed year-round. Once you’ve used distiller’s feed for a while and know at what rate you use it you may want to go to a contract basis with your supplier. That allows you and the supplier both to know when to expect a shipment and to plan for it.

How should distillers feed be handled?
Handling wet distillers grain (WDG) in warmer weather can be challenging. Wet distillers grains will mold and go out of condition in as few as four days, although typically, WDG have about seven days of shelf life before going out of condition. Organic acid may extend shelf life, but the additional cost needs to be considered. Wet distillers grains have been successfully stored for more than 6 months in silage bags, either bagged alone or in combination with another feed to increase bulk. SDSU researchers have been very successful storing blends of WDG and soybean hulls.

Dried distillers grains (DDG), with or without solubles, are easier to store since they contain only 10-12% moisture. These products do have a small particle size, so storing DDG out of the wind is critical. Commodity bins or bulk storage sheds work best.

Why should I use distillers feed?
Here’s a brief rundown of the benefits of distillers feed.

Distiller’s co-products offer beef producers an opportunity to potentially decrease their unit cost of production while maintaining similar levels of performance.

The nutritional characteristics of distiller’s co-products (high energy and medium protein levels) allow these feeds to be effectively incorporated into many feeding scenarios for many types of cattle.

For many producers, distillers feeds are more economical than traditional feeds. Careful assessments of nutrient, shipping, and storage costs are essential when deciding if distiller’s co-products are economically viable alternative feeds for your operation.