home → articles → Feed & Nutrition | Email to a Friend

Research Evaluating Potential Of Ethanol ByProduct

published: May 13th 2011

Cattle producers will soon learn how another ethanol by-product can be used as a feed source. Condensed distillers solubles or often referred to as "syrup".can replace traditional protein and energy sources in beef cattle diets and add ration condition to increase palatability.

Distillers solubles is a by-product of wet distillers grain. Because the distiller solubles are 70 - 80 percent water, there has been concern in including distillers solubles in feedlot diets.

University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL)  Extension Feedlot Nutrition and Management Specialist Matt Luebbe says research conducted at UNL's Agricultural Research and Development Center (ARDC) near Mead has found that distillers solubles can be fed at higher levels. Luebbe says intake increases until distillers solubles reach the higher levels. Also as the levels of distillers solubles increases, sulfur levels can also reduce feed intake.

That preliminary work at Mead established a frame-work for a upcoming trial at UNL Panhandle Research Feedlot, where researchers will evaluate how different levels of solubles will interact with steam flaked corn or dry rolled corn diets. The trial will consist of six diets with distillers solubles, making up to approximately one-third or one-half of the diet. The 450 head feedlot trial will determine the optumum feeding levels, which can vary with both diets.

Further the trial will determine if more research is needed, such as evaluating how different byproducts interact. Further Luebbe says there is potential in using distillers solubles with roughages. As this research gets underway in the coming weeks, Luebbe says there is potential for 2 - 3 other feeding trials in using distillers solubles in cattle diets.