Grainnet

More than a third of U.S. cattle and hog operations feed ethanol co-products to their livestock, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports after a survey of 9,000 Midwestern farmers.

The survey found that in 2006 ethanol coproducts were fed to livestock at 38% of dairy operations, 36% of cattle-on-feed operations, 13% of beef cattle operations, and 12% of hog operations.

“These numbers are not really surprising. A lot of distiller dried grains (DDGS) are being produced, and they have excellent feed value. It is still good to see the facts back up corn growers' assertion that we can and will meet the needs of the livestock industry even with the rapid expansion of ethanol production,” said Wendell Shauman, Illinois Corn Marketing Board chairman of Kirkwood.

Livestock operations not currently using ethanol coproducts said availability is the primary impediment, according to the survey.

“The ICMB remains very aware how important the hog industry is to Illinois; so we are committed to advancing aggressive research and education programs to make DDGS as functional and valuable to the pork industry as it currently is to beef and dairy sectors of our industry,” Shauman said.

Corn gluten feed was used by 46% of beef cow operations and 38% of cattle on feed operations.

Most purchased from feed companies or coops, but many cattle-on-feed operations bought directly from ethanol and other processing plants.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

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