Producing Biodiesel in the Feedyard

by Dr. James I. Sprague, nutritionist

Biodiesel is being produced from sunflowers seeds at a Rocky Ford, Colorado, feedlot. The oil from the sunflower seeds is blended with gasoline for biodiesel, and the protein meal is used in feed rations at United Feeders. The processing and blending equipment is owned by three farmers and businessmen of the Arkansas River Valley. The source of the oil for the biodiesel is primarily sunflower seeds grown locally.

David Kitch, managing partner of United Feeders explains the feedlot has leased the site for the extraction process, and the feedlot has the opportunity to purchase the co-product which is a 26 to 28 percent protein meal for their rations.

Benefits for feedlots and farmers

Kitch said that the feedlot is using the sunflower meal for part of their rations, particularly their high corn silage rations. He said, “The sunflower meal has helped with the ration costs since it is produced at the feedlot with no freight and handling charges.” He added, “one of the down points is a continuous supply of the meal is not available all the time, so alternative rations are needed.”

Growing sunflowers requires less irrigation water than many alternative crops and appears to fit in well in the Arkansas Valley along with the melons, onions, and the traditional alfalfa and corn crops.

This is another example of a feedyard working with area farmers and business people. Certainly this example is potentially a “win-win” for both parties.

The process

A screw-type extruder is used to press 95 percent of the oil from the seeds. Then the oil is allowed to set for several hours for some of the solids to settle out. Next, the oil is centrifuged twice to extract the remaining solids. The sunflower oil is blended with 10 to 20 percent gasoline, depending on the weather for the final biodiesel blend. They can process 24 tons of sunflower seeds in a day. The press is driven by a diesel engine and the biodiesel is used as the fuel source. ©

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