Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Feeding co-products gets complicated

Thursday, February 25, 2010

by PATRICIA GROTENHUIS

Corn steep water and condensed distillers grains are both becoming common livestock feeds.  The demand is making the products difficult to source so producers buy it from different locations each time, leading to variability.

“The main challenge is trying to source co-product in a saturated market,” says Jay Squire from Wallenstein Feed and Supply.

Squire, along with Ron Lackey, feed ingredients and byproducts feeding specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, addressed close to 100 producers and industry representatives at a Swine Liquid Feeding Association seminar in Stratford on Feb. 23.

Lackey stresses that the products are not interchangeable and have different inclusion levels, so farmers should work closely with a nutritionist to determine which is right for their operation.

Currently, condensed distiller’s grains can be bought from ethanol plants in Chatham, Aylmer or Collingwood’s Canadian Mist distillery. Corn steep water can be bought from London, Cardinal and Port Colborne CASCO plants or the ethanol plant in Collingwood..

As the popularity of feeding co-products increases, supply is shrinking. Farmers either hire brokers or call each plant to find product. To add to the complications, the nutrient analysis varies based on where the product is purchased.

The University of Guelph and the Ontario agriculture ministry tested random samples of condensed distillers and corn steep water from different plants in Ontario at Agri-Food Laboratories. 

Condensed distillers results showed a spread of eight per cent in dry matter between the four samples.  There were also differences of three per cent in crude protein, seven per cent in fibre, three per cent in fat and five per cent in starch. Ash, which contains minerals, had a variation of four per cent.

The story is similar for corn steep water.  Dry matter content varied by 12 per cent, protein by 10 per cent, fat by three per cent, and starch by two per cent.  Fibre was non-existent in three samples, but in the fourth was almost eight per cent and ash varied by nine per cent.

Corn steep water had higher dry matter, protein, ash and starch while condensed distillers grains had higher fibre and fat. Dry corn had lower protein and higher starch than the two co-products and fell between condensed distillers and corn steep water in fibre and fat. BF

Current Issue

November 2024

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

University of Guelph looking for new OAC Dean

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

A position has opened at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC). The OAC is looking for a new Dean to lead the school into the future. The ideal candidate is “a visionary leader who shares its commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service, and who... Read this article online

Lift heavy equipment with ease - TG Equipment Jack

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Byline: Denise Faguy The TG Equipment Jack is a heavy-duty lifting device designed for large high clearance sprayers. This Cool Tools’ innovative design ensures secure and stable lifting of heavy equipment, making it an essential tool for repairs and tire changes. Key... Read this article online

Ontario’s Best in Agri-Food Excellence 2024

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Ontario celebrates excellence in agriculture and food sector achievements The Government of Ontario is celebrating the achievements of outstanding contributors in the agriculture and food industry through the 2024 Excellence in Agriculture Awards. This year’s awards recognize 13... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2024 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top