Wheat DDGS Feed Guide - Western Canadian Feed Innovation ...

Wheat DDGS - Nutrient Composition
The average nutrient composition of wheat and corn DDGS are provided in the nutrient composition tables at the
end of this guide. Product inconsistency is one of the main issues challenging wheat DDGS acceptance as livestock
feed (Neuz, 2010). Because wheat DDGS is a byproduct rather than an end product, quality control in the past
has been overlooked on occasion. Variations in nutrient values and moisture content have not only been seen in
wheat DDGS from plant to plant, but from batch to batch (Nuez and yu, 2009; Walter, 2010; Tumuluru et al., 2010).
Individualized, plant-specific processing techniques such as fermentation conditions, drying method, amount of
solubles added back, and grinding procedure or type of grain used can all contribute to product variability as does
the nutrient content of the starting grains.
Ethanol plants are designed to process high-starch grain and convert it to ethanol (Katzen International Inc., 2011).
A pure wheat DDGS will have a different nutrient composition than a 70:30 corn blend or straight corn DDGS
(Tables 1-3). As well, soil nutrients and growing conditions will vary from one region to the next, impacting the
wheat nutrient composition. Starting with a feedstock of consistent type and origin improves the ability to produce
consistent DDGS.
The addition of enzymes, yeasts or sulfur, and the efficiency of fermentation (the ability to capture as much ethanol
as possible, leaving minimal starch in the whole stillage fraction) may vary between ethanol plants. The drying
process can add significant variability to the end product (Nuez and yu, 2009). Overheating, variations in particle
size, and differing moisture contents are linked to drying. The quantity of solubles added back to distillers grains at
drying impacts nutritional values, the binding of feed particles and overall wheat DDGS particle size (Nuez, 2010).
In the past, corn DDGS was often used as a reference point for wheat DDGS. It has been well studied and
consistencies in the product have been achieved. However, through the work of the FOBI Network the nutrient
composition of wheat DDGS has been researched.
As discussed in the previous section, ethanol production processes and feedstock sources vary, with the process
causing fibre, protein and minerals to concentrate approximately three times within wheat DDGS. When wheat
is processed into wheat DDGS, dry matter crude protein levels increase from 8.5-14.0% to 20.0-38.0%, and fat
levels increase from 1.6-2.0% to 2.5-6.7% (Aldai et al., 2009). When corn is processed into DDGS, crude protein
increases from 7.4-10% to 23-32% and fat increases from 3.5-4.7% to 9.0-12.0% (Aldai et al., 2009). Wheat DDGS
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NUTRIENT COMPOSITION