July 6, 2007

US surveys extent of ethanol by-products used in feed
 

About half the number of cattle and pig producers in the US states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin either fed or considered feeding ethanol by-products to their animals in 2006, according to a survey by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Some 9,400 livestock producers in the 12 states were surveyed on whether they used ethanol by-products including distillers grains and corn gluten in feed, the type, quantity and manner of procurement of by-products fed, as well as problems faced in feeding such products.

The survey revealed that 46 percent of beef cattle producers and 38 percent of cattle on feed producers used corn gluten feed. 45 percent of dairy cattle producers and 44 percent of hog producers used distillers dried grains. Distillers dried grains with solubles, condensed distillers solubles, brewers grains and distillers wet grains were also studied.

Feed companies supply most dairy cattle, beef cattle and hog producers with the by-products, while ethanol and other processing plants supply the majority of cattle on feed producers.

Livestock producers not using ethanol by-products at present have cited availability as the main barrier to such a move, with infrastructural, management and cost issues also affecting their decision.