Distiller’s Grains
The principal by-product of the ethanol production process is Distillers Grains, a high protein, high-energy animal feed supplement primarily marketed to the dairy and beef industry. Distiller's grains contain by-pass protein that is comparable to other protein supplements such as cottonseed meal and soybean meal. By-pass proteins are more digestible to the animal.
Dry mill ethanol processing creates three forms of distiller's grains: Distillers Wet Grains with Solubles ("DWGS"), Distiller's Modified Wet Grains with Solubles ("DMWG") and Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles ("DDGS").
- DWGS is processed corn mash that contains approximately 70% moisture. DWGS has a shelf life of approximately three days and can be sold only to farms within the immediate vicinity of an ethanol plant.
- DMWG is DWGS that has been dried to approximately 50% moisture. DMWG have a slightly longer shelf life of approximately three weeks and are often sold to nearby markets.
- DDGS is DWGS that has been dried to approximately 10% moisture. DDGS has an almost indefinite shelf life and may be sold and shipped to any market regardless of its vicinity to an ethanol plant.
