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Changes in ethanol processing affecting swine nutrition

A University of Illinois animal science professor says compounds in distiller’s dried grains have changed in recent years because of changes to grain processing for ethanol.

Hans Stein tells Brownfield ethanol plants don’t overheat their products anymore, allowing more amino acids to survive.

He said if handled correctly, the changes to DDGS, a major swine feed component, can save on feed costs.

“Soybean meal will be the most expensive ingredient of the major ingredients we have in the diet,” Stein said. “So, if you can reduce the soybean meal a little bit then you will have a lower feed cost.”

Stein said soybean meal content in swine feeds can be reduced because of higher protein content in DDGS.

All the changes haven’t been for the better Stein said. The fat content of the product has been roughly cut in half to between five and eight percent. Stein said the reduction in fat lowers the energy value of DDGS. Though, he said lower fat can help pigs as they reach finishing weight.

He also said while not new, DDGS have recently been discovered to be high in the amino acid leucine. Stein said excess leucine causes the overproduction of enzymes that break it and other amino acids down. Leucine also blocks the absorption of the amino acid tryptophan, which helps create serotonin.

“Typically, if you don’t have enough serotonin in the brain, then we see a reduction in feed intake.”

Stein said if nutritionists account for the recent changes to DDGS, the feed product can still be cost effective for swine growth.