Perspectives - Nutrition News

By Mike Hutjens

Reprinted from Agri-View

February 7, 2002, Page D-4, Volume 28, Number 6

Last month, more than 100 Illinois and Wisconsin livestock producers and feed industry leaders packed into a meeting room in Lena, Ill. to hear the latest information on feeding wet and dry distillers grains (WDG and DDG). A new ethanol plant is slated to begin production in the summer of 2002 in Lena, with the potential of producing 195,000 tons of WDG with an estimated price of $28 a ton (45 percent dry matter). Annually, 14.5 million bushels of local corn grain could be processed. The anticipated price for DDG was $90 to $100 a ton. A similar plant is planned for Monroe. Interest was high and questions were numerous!

The feed value of distillers grain (DG) is listed in Table 1. Protein quality must be balanced. DG is a good source of protein high in methionine (first limiting amino acid in high producing cows), but low in lysine (second or co-limiting amino acid). Using the NRC 2001 Dairy Model or CPM (Cornell-Penn-Miner) Model will allow nutritionists to maintain a balance of three parts lysine to one part methionine, including rumen undegradable protein (RUP) and microbial protein sources.

RUP balance will be important in high producing cow rations. Oil is high in unsaturated fatty acids, especially linolenic fatty acid. The good news is unsaturated fatty acids can have a positive impact on reproduction by maintaining higher levels of progesterone and/or lowering the potential negative effect of prostaglandin. The bad news is unsaturated fatty acids can reduce fiber digestion and fiber digesting bacteria. Reducing the amount of oil seeds or high oil corn should be considered. For example, 5 pounds of DG can replace 2 to 3 pounds of soybean or cotton-seed.

Also, the oil in DDG will be "free oil" (not inside the oil seed cell), making the oil more available in the rumen. Illinois workers recommend limiting the amount of free oil to 1/2 pound or 225 gram (represents 5 pounds of DG dry matter).

DG should be positioned as a protein supplement resource in the ration. Five pounds of DDG or 10 pounds of WDG is "conservative" upper limit. These levels could provide half of the supplemental protein with the remaining other half from soybean-meal-based protein supplements. Three-way Illinois Amish mixture is one-third DDG, one third soybean meal, and one third heat-treated soybean that's successful top dressed to high producing cows.

DG will provide higher levels of methionine relative to lysine, target the ratio of three parts lysine to one part methionine to optimized amino acid balance. Monitor color of DDG to avoid excessive heating. Golden color DDG is a better source than dark DDG due to higher amino acid digestibility. The oil content of DB can reduce dustiness and improve grain palatability.

Economics are favorable using Feed Val 3 (University of Wisconsin) to calculate breakeven prices for WDG at $85 (40 percent dry matter), WDG $108 (50 percent dry matter), and $186 (DDG) a ton using the following reference feed values.

• Shelled corn ($2 a bushel) as an energy price
• 44 percent soybean meal ($180 a ton) as a rumen undegradable protein price
• Tallow ($26 per hundredweight) as a fat/oil price
• Limestone ($7 per hundredweight) as a calcium price
• Dicalcium phosphate ($22 per hundredweight) as a phosphorous price.

The consistency of WDG is similar to other wet byproduct feeds (wet corn gluten feed or wet beet pulp). In the summer, feed the current inventory of WDG within one week (longer storage times are possible in colder seasons). WDG can be bagged, but requires mixing with other feeds. University of Illinois beef specialists have blown WDG mixed on an equal wet basis with silage into modest-sized upright silos. Mold development will reduce total feed intake. A dairy herd of over 300 cows will be needed to feed a tandem load (12 tons) of WDG in a week at 10 pounds per cow. Smaller amounts and/or split loads will be needed for most Illinois dairy farms wanting to feed WDG. WDG can also be used to extend silages based on protein needs of the animal. All supplemental protein needs can be provided to low producing cows and growing heifers (over 6 months of age) when protein quality is not a limitation. Monitor phosphorous and mineral balance for far off and close up dry cows to avoid metabolic problems.

Dan Faulkner, University of Illinois beef specialist, indicated that DDG or WDG can be fed to beef cattle. For nonlactating beef cows, 7 pounds of DDG or 15 pounds WDG can maintain a dry beef cow along with low quality hay. With corn silage as the main forage source, 1 pound of DDG can balance nutrient needs for the dry beef cow. Lactating beef cows may require 15 pounds of DDG or 30 pounds of WDG with low quality hay or 4 pounds with a corn-silage-based forage program. Feedlot cattle can efficiently use up to 30 percent of the ration dry matter as DG. Based on the energy content of distillers grain for beef cattle, DDG breakeven price was reported at $94 and WDG (45 percent dry matter) was $47. These prices can be used by dairy producers when you are considering only the energy value of DDG and WDG.

Gilbert Hollis, University of Illinois swine specialist, listed the following points for swine producers.

The maximum level for inclusion for DDG was 5 percent for nursery phase, 7 to 10 percent for growing pigs (35 to 120 pounds), 10 percent for finishing pigs (over 120 pounds), 40 to 50 percent for gestating pigs and 10 to 20 percent for lactating pigs. Formulate rations based on digestible amino acids. No effect on carcass or meat quality occurs at recommended levels. DDG appears to reduce gut health problems.

Mike Hutjensis an Extension dairy specialist with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Call him at 217-333-2928; e-mail hutjensm@mail.aces.uiuc.edu.