A joint project designed to evaluate the distribution and feeding of the ethanol co-product, dried distillers grains with solubles, is underway in southwest Missouri.

The cooperative effort is led by the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and the University of Missouri Extension Commercial Agriculture Program. Both received a USDA Value-Added Producer Grant to learn about the likes and dislikes of Missouri farmers when it comes to supplementing beef cattle in the state. The Corn Council and the ethanol plants are eager to learn how best the DDGS can conveniently be fed to cattle in southern Missouri, according to Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with MU Extension.

The project involves distributing the DDGS to cattle producers in 1,500-pound tote amounts at no cost. The farmers agree to feed the product in various ways, including for backgrounding cattle, cow-calf operations and for heifer development programs.

At the conclusion of the feeding period, surveys will be conducted to determine how well the tote method of delivery worked and how the cattle responded to the DDGS in their diet.

The nutritional value of the co-product feed is excellent, according to Cole. "It has an as-is crude protein level of 25% and a fat level of 7.5%. The fat level helps boost the energy, or total digestible nutrient level, well above corn. Additionally the phosphorus level is high enough to allow farmers to reduce the phosphorus level in their mineral supplements. The DDGS distributed in this area is about 90% dry matter," Cole says.

Most beef producers will hand feed the DDGS straight in feed bunks similar to a protein supplement like soybean or cottonseed meal. The DDGS are not pelleted, so feeding on the ground is not a suitable option.

The maximum daily feeding level suggested for wintering calves is about four pounds per day per head and six pounds for an 800-pound yearling. A 1,200-pound, third-stage cow could handle around eight to nine pounds per day, but the cost and forage quality will likely have farmers feeding less.

For more information on the project and feeding DDGS, contact any of the MU Extension livestock specialists in southwest Missouri: Eldon Cole in Mt. Vernon, (417) 466-3102; Gary Naylor in Dallas County, (417) 345-7551; and Dona Funk in Cedar County, (417) 276-3313.