Distillers Feeds: Nutrient Profiles

Feed variation is a key factor when using by-product feed. Users will need to determine nutrient content of the select by-product and how to build in the risk in nutrient variation in their rations. This section provides several documents for the user of corn distillers grain. One technical paper and three data sets allow for strategic considerations and nutrient levels when including distillers grains and other by-product feeds in the ration balancing programs.

• Dairy NRC 2001 lists the nutrient composition of dried distillers grain as summarized by the National Research Council including standard deviation of nutrient levels.
• One Midwest plant reported variation in their plant summarized over two years to compare nutrient variation in distillers grain. Averages, means, and standard deviation are calculated for users.
• A University of Wisconsin paper compares three sources of distillers grains produced in the Midwest using cutting edge analysis including fatty acid profile and levels, ether extract, NDFD, NDF-CP, minerals and a comparison of eight published datasets.
• "Random Rules: Living with variation in nutrient composition of concentrate feeds" was presented by Dr. Bill Weiss, The Ohio State University, at the Mid-South Nutrition Conference and Four State Dairy Feeding and Management Meetings. The paper assesses the production risks and strategies when using feeds that vary in nutrient content.