LINCOLN, NE – The ethanol co-product distillers grains has helped strengthen Nebraska’s economy and increase the efficiencies in feeding cattle in the state, according to Craig Uden of Darr Feedlot in Cozad, Neb.

“Distillers grains has brought Nebraska back to the forefront of cattle production because it increases gains and performance of cattle on feed while maintaining carcass quality. It also provides a boost for cow-calf operators because it works so well in getting cows ready to breed,” Uden said.

According to an analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), ethanol plants across the country produced 23 million metric tons of livestock and poultry feed last year.

“That’s a lot of good feed coming from ethanol plants,” said Dennis Gengenbach, a member of the Nebraska Corn Board. “In fact, RFA estimated that about one billion bushels of corn were replaced by ethanol co-products in 2007-08, an amount equivalent to roughly 15 percent of total corn use for feed.”

Uden said the availability of distillers grains has been tremendous for Nebraska. “It’s a golden opportunity for this state,” he said. “It strengthens our economy, increases corn production and supports increased beef production. Because we have cattle and corn, we have an advantage over most states.”

Although distillers grains can be dried and shipped across the country – and even around the world – the biggest benefit comes when it can remain “wet” or only partially dried and delivered to nearby livestock operations. Plus it saves transportation costs by being fed closer to the plant.

“Not only do cattle perform well on distillers grains, but we gain efficiencies by not having to do as much processing at the feedyard,” he said. “We don’t have to steam flake or roll corn, as the ethanol coproduct is already processed when it gets here. It really gives us an advantage over cattle states that have to import feed and process it more.”

Gengenbach, a corn grower from Smithfield, Nebraska, said the Nebraska Corn Board has invested heavily into distillers grains research as a way to benefit the state’s livestock industry. “We’ve published several research-based guidebooks that cover feeding and storing distillers grains,” he said. “They are popular with a wide variety of folks in Nebraska and across the country and are available online for free.”

To download the corn co-product manuals, go to NebraskaCorn.org and click on the publications tab.

“Nebraska is agriculture; we don’t have alternatives,” Uden said. “Ethanol and cattle are the best combination we’ve seen in many years to provide an economic boost to the state. It’s just tremendous.”

The Nebraska Corn Board is a self-help program, funded and managed by Nebraska corn farmers. Producers invest in the program at a rate of 1/4 of a cent per bushel of corn sold. Nebraska corn checkoff funds are invested in programs of market development, research and education.