Experts discuss DDGS potential
More than 40 nutritionists, distillers, feed mill managers, journalists, and production managers gathered at Alltech on October 23 and 24 to discuss the ever-increasing role that dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) will play in animal agriculture. Between current technology limitations and President George W. Bush’s “30 in 30” mandate, which challenges the United States to provide 30% of its fuels through biofuels by 2030, grains to feed our animals will be in higher demand.
But the question remains: is the increase in ethanol production good for
animal agriculture? “Yes and no” was the consensus from those who
participated in the forum. The challenges facing the industry are threefold:
inconsistency of production, communication gaps, and utilization of new
technologies.
DDGS products are still very variable in their quality.
Communication is therefore very important in order to develop a product
that is mutually beneficial and successful for animal production. Also, new
technologies should be embraced in order to move the industry forward.
Unfortunately, due to years of relatively low oil prices, little significant
progress in cellulosic ethanol production technologies has been made in the last
25 years.
