Ethanol Blog

While a recent dried distillers grains nutrient survey showed some changes in the past 10 years, there were less changes than expected given the increasing trend toward reduced-oil DDG, according to an article by Ethanol Producer (http://bit.ly/…).

The survey, completed by the University of Minnesota Animal Science Department, involved nutrient profiles from 159 DDG samples, which were taken every three months for a year from 42 Midwestern ethanol plants. Wet and dry distillers grains were evaluated.

The biggest change was the increased variability in fat content, due largely to various technologies with varying efficiencies used by plants to extract corn oil. Fat content in samples ranged from 5% to 14%, with an average of 11% on a dry matter basis.

The average protein content in the recent survey was 31%, higher than the previous study done 10 years ago which was about 30%. Oil extraction had the biggest effect in higher protein samples, between 35% and 42% protein. There was a sizeable variation in protein levels between plants, but little variation from samples taken throughout the year at each plant.

Fiber content of the samples spanned a wide range, from 26% to 47% neutral detergent fiber on a dry matter basis, with an average of about 34%. Phosphorus content is higher than 10 years ago, between 0.44% and 1.27% with an average of 0.89%. The average sulfur content was consistent with the previous survey.

Cheryl Anderson can be reached at Cheryl.anderson@telventdtn.com.