Agri News, MN
12-05-06
Sheep producers gather in Ireton
By Renae B. Vander Schaaf
news@agrinews.com
IRETON, Iowa -- Sheep producers gathered in Ireton last week to hear Iowa
State University Extension Sheep specialist Dan Morrical talk about using
ethanol co-products in sheep rations.
Trials continue to be conducted at ISU using different co-products from the
ethanol industry. These products include dried distillers grain, wet distillers grain,
condensed distillers solubles and stillage.
"Acidosis problems in sheep are significantly reduced with the use of DDGs in
feed rations," said Morrical. "The reason for that appears to be the lack of starch
that is found in ethanol co-products."
Since DDGs products are low in calcium and high in phosphorus, the producer
must monitor rations to prevent urinary calculi, or kidney stones, Morrical said.
This can be solved by making sure calcium is added to the rations either through
alfalfa or limestone. Dry distillers grains are high in protein and fat.
Lambs grow well on ethanol co-products, gaining on average 0.75 pounds daily.
The feed is palatable. Producers can mix the co-products with other feed
ingredients to be sure to have the correct balance of nutrients.
"Soybean hulls are a popular feed source to blend with DDGs," Morrical said.
Soybean hulls are a highly digestible fiber source containing 9 percent crude
protein and 70 percent total digestible nutrients, which is similar to oats. The
price of soybean hulls varies depending on how much crushing is done by the
soybean industry.
Cornstalks can also be mixed with DDGS and WDGS and stored in silage bags.
The mixture does not spoil as one normally thinks of when using a wet feed. The
mixture can be stored indefinitely until needed.
The CDS is a liquid syrup product that has to be kept from freezing, Morrical
said.
It can be stored in an underground tank. Another drawback is that it is especially
high in sulfur and can create problems in the rumen or polio as it reduces thiamin
absorption.
The problem is easily solved with B vitamins.
Corn gluten should be a nice yellow color, Morrical said. If it's dark, it has been
cooked too fast or too long and is lower quality. Animals can't digest it as well.