Grain used for ethanol is going into livestock feed in a bigger way than expected

Used grain from ethanol plants are replacing more corn and soybean meal for livestock and poultry than originally predicted, a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows. (Ethanol Producer Magazine photo)

Since ethanol production only uses the starch of the corn kernel, the remaining fat and fiber in distillers' grains increase by a factor of three compared to unprocessed corn, reports Kris Bevill of Ethanol Producer Magazine. On average one metric ton of distillers' grains can replace about 1.22 metric tons of animal feed. (Read more)

The prior assumption was that ethanol plants generated about one-third of the original corn bushel for every bushel processed, Southeast Farm Press reports. The new report says dry-mill ethanol plants generate on average 2.8 gallons of ethanol and about 17.5 pounds of animal feed for every 56-pound bushel of corn processed. (Read more)