Podcast: Distillers grains is a great livestock, poultry feed

In this podcast, Greg Whitmore, a farmer from Shelby and member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, reminds us about all the feed that corn ethanol plants produce. Known as distillers grains, ethanol plants produce some 11 billion pounds of feed here in Nebraska and some 73 billion pounds across the country.

Ethanol plants produce distillers grains because the ethanol process only uses the starch portion of the corn kernel. Whitmore said the rest of the kernel’s components, including fiber, protein and oil, combine to make distillers grains, an outstanding feed ingredient for livestock and poultry.

In the podcast, Whitmore discusses some of the benefits livestock and poultry producer see from distillers grains, including that it is a nutrient-rich feed that can help lower feeding costs.

"When you think of corn-based ethanol, think about distillers grains, too," he said. "Both add a lot of value to that initial bushel of corn."

Nebraska Corn Kernel podcasts are also available on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.