Dried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) is an important co-product of ethanol production. The nutrients remaining after processing — protein, fat, minerals and vitamins — are concentrated into this valuable feed for livestock.

A bushel of corn weighs 56 pounds and will produce at least 2.8 gallons of ethanol and 17 pounds of distillers grain. (Source: Purdue Extension)

DDGS is a high quality feed for dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, poultry and aquaculture. It’s an economical partial replacement for corn, soybean meal and dicalcium phosphate in livestock and poultry feeds.

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol biorefineries produced over 36.4 million metric tons of nutritious livestock feed in 2022 and over 4.2 billion pounds of corn distillers oil for use in bio-based diesel or as a valuable animal feed supplement.