Distillers Grains are a high quality feed that is a co-product of the ethanol production process. Ethanol is produced from the starch in corn and the remaining protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals make up distillers grains.
Each bushel of corn can produce 2.8 gallons of ethanol and 17 pounds of distillers grains.
Distillers grains are available from ethanol plants in a number of different forms, including as distillers dried grains (DDG), distillers dried grains/solubles (DDGS), wet distillers grains (WDG), and condensed distillers solubles (CDS).
These products are currently used primarily as a feed for cattle and some for poultry. New technologies at ethanol plants have the potential to make it more suitable for the pork industry as well.
As a result of the rapidly expanding ethanol industry in the state, Iowa has also seen recent growth cattle and diary production, with many producers including distillers grains in their feed rations
Mailing Address: IDALS, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319: PH: 515-281-5321
