Barley ethanol creates new animal feed
Osage Bio Energy has signed a contract with Land O’Lakes Purina Feed to market its barley protein meal (BPM), a co-product of its ethanol bio-processing operation.
Osage Bio Energy’s first plant, Appomattox Bio Energy, located in Hopewell, Virginia, USA, is currently under construction and scheduled to come online in late spring 2010.
When complete, it will be the first commercial scale barley-to-ethanol processing plant in the United States.
A co-product derived from processing barley into ethanol, BPM is a new protein-rich animal feed ingredient.
Fibre removal
The innovative process design of Osage Bio Energy’s plant includes a specialized milling technique that removes the hulls from the barley – thus reducing the fibre and concentrating the protein and starch. The hulls will be pelletized on-site and sold as a renewable fuel source.
Through the use of special enzymes during fermentation, the plant will convert the problematic waxy beta-glucans in the barley into ethanol, preventing them from becoming part of the BPM.
Additionally, state-of-the-art ring dryers will shorten the BPM drying time and preserve the proteins and amino acids.
Low fat, high protein
The nutritional profile of BPM has unique characteristics that differentiate it in the feeding world. It has a low fat profile and high protein and lysine content relative to other grain-based feeds.
Additionally, because the product is derived from barley that has not been genetically modified, it represents a new source of non-GMO animal feed for global customers.
Appomattox Bio Energy has the capacity to produce up to 250,000 tonnes per year of barley protein meal annually.
LOLPF is part of Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of the largest cooperatives in the world with sales of $10 billion and business in all 50 states and more than 50 countries.
LOLPF has more than 70 highly technical feed mills located across the US and its Purina Feed DDG Marketing team has experience and expertise in all forms of logistics (truck, rail car, containers, barge and break-bulk vessel).
Osage Bio Energy was launched in January 2007 with the goal of developing the first major barley-to-ethanol bio-processing facilities in the United States.
Through its facilities, Osage Bio Energy is developing a market for barley to provide local farmers with an incremental cash crop, producing a high-quality barley protein meal for animal feed and aiding soil conservation efforts by promoting year-round farming opportunities.
