by James I. Sprague, Ph.D., Livestock Nutritionist

A co-product of corn sweeteners
The production of high fructose syrup from corn has lead to a sophisticated production industry and an innovative marketing program for the co-products. The co-products are produced from the extraction of the starch by the wet milling process, and in some cases corn germ meal, after the removal of the corn oil. The products used by cattle feeders are called “corn gluten feed.”

Marketing wet corn gluten feeds
First, an innovative marketing program was developed on sound research on the feeding value for cattle. They have combined the products of high protein condensed steep liquor, the de-fated corn germ meal and highly digestible corn bran. The blend makes a valuable mixture of co-products.

Transport to feedlots
Next, they developed delivery systems to get the product to feedlots. Specialized trucks deliver the product to feedlots near the production plants. One of the producers of these products is Cargill. Unit railroad trains are used to transport their product to the Texas Panhandle. (Cargill’s name for their product is “Sweet Bran”.) They download at the rail site and transport by trucks to feedlots in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and as far north as Southest Colorado and Southwest Kansas.

Feedlot’s experiences
Feedlots and their nutritionists have found several features about corn gluten products that are beneficial for cattle rations. The product is very palatable and has an excellent shelf-life. The moisture of approximately 40 percent adds conditioning to dry rations and cuts down on fines from accumulating between feedings. Nutritionist John Thornton of Garden City, Kan., and Danny Simms with Cargill confirm that the palatability of corn gluten feeds lead to its use in starting rations. Cargill’s “Sweet Bran” is: protein 22 to 23 percent, phosphorus one percent, fat content three percent, and sulfur .44 percent.

Compared to wet distillers grains
Cargill’s “Sweet Bran” corn gluten product is 60 percent dry matter, compared to 30 to 40 percent of other corn gluten feeds. Each product varies, depending on the manufacturer and the blend of co-factors. The rumen degradable protein in corn gluten will be higher than distillers grains, but the total amount of protein will be higher for distillers grains, particularly if made from milo. ©