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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #249044
Title: Perspectives on Coproduct Advances

Author
item Rosentrater, Kurt

Submitted to: South Dakota Corn Council Newsletter
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/30/2009
Publication Date: 11/30/2009
Citation: Rosentrater, K.A. 2009. Perspectives on Coproduct Advances. South Dakota Corn Council Newsletter. November 2009, pp. 12-13.

Interpretive Summary: The ethanol industry is very dynamic and has been continually evolving since its inception. Ethanol companies now recognize the need to produce more consistent, higher quality DDGS which will better serve the needs of livestock producers. Many formal and informal studies have been devoted to adjusting existing processes in order to improve and optimize the quality of the coproducts which are produced. Although the majority of DDGS is currently consumed by beef and dairy cattle, use in monogastric diets, especially swine and poultry, continues to increase. There are also many developments underway in terms of evolving coproducts, encompassing the development of more value streams from the corn kernel as well as the resulting distillers grains. Furthermore, there are new opportunities to increase the utility and value of DDGS. Some of these emerging possibilities include using DDGS (or components thereof) as ingredients in human foods, as biofillers in plastics, as feedstocks for the production of bioenergy, and as substrates for the further production of ethanol or other biofuels. The sale of DDGS and other coproducts has been one key to the industry’s success so far, and will continue to be important to the long-term sustainability of the industry.

Technical Abstract: The ethanol industry is very dynamic and has been continually evolving since its inception. Ethanol companies now recognize the need to produce more consistent, higher quality DDGS which will better serve the needs of livestock producers. Many formal and informal studies have been devoted to adjusting existing processes in order to improve and optimize the quality of the coproducts which are produced. Although the majority of DDGS is currently consumed by beef and dairy cattle, use in monogastric diets, especially swine and poultry, continues to increase. There are also many developments underway in terms of evolving coproducts, encompassing the development of more value streams from the corn kernel as well as the resulting distillers grains. Furthermore, there are new opportunities to increase the utility and value of DDGS. Some of these emerging possibilities include using DDGS (or components thereof) as ingredients in human foods, as biofillers in plastics, as feedstocks for the production of bioenergy, and as substrates for the further production of ethanol or other biofuels. The sale of DDGS and other coproducts has been one key to the industry’s success so far, and will continue to be important to the long-term sustainability of the industry.