August 16, 2012
US ethanol plants' closure reduces DDGS in swine diets
The anticipated closure of US ethanol plants, which produce distiller's dried grains with soluble (DDGS), due to drought-induced price increase of corn, has reduced DDGS in swine feed.
Jerry Shurson, professor of swine nutrition and management at the University of Minnesota explains, "DDGS has typically been priced at 75-85% of the value of corn, making it a good alternative ingredient to reduce feed costs. Now it is being priced around 100% of the value of corn, making it less attractive."
Pork Network says that there are indications that some Iowa pork producers, faced with the shutdown of their local supplier, have been travelling an extra one hundred miles (~160 km) to find DDGS to supplement their feed.