Project Number: 5447-12620-003-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: May 01, 2007
End Date: Apr 30, 2012

Objective:
There are three parties with mutual interest that are impacted by this cooperative research: SDSU, ARS, and MBI International. MBI has indicated a commitment to the development of the Ammonia Fiber Explosion (AFEX) process as a treatment to better use lignocellulosic feedstocks, as well as current corn-based coproducts from the ethanol production process, for renewable fuels production. SDSU will collaborate with ARS and MBI in evaluating current, modified, and next generation fuel ethanol coproduct streams, including AFEX-treated materials produced by MBI, and will determine their applicability for use in beef, dairy, and other animal rations, as well as potential use in other value-added products, such as human foods and industrial products. All parties are actively engaged in independent research projects to benefit the agriculture-based renewable fuels industry and livestock producers. New technologies are being developed to add efficiencies to ethanol production, livestock feeding, and other value-added alternatives. These technologies must be objectively evaluated and refined and potential impacts must be understood.

Approach:
SDSU will collaborate with ARS and MBI in evaluating current, modified, and next generation fuel ethanol coproduct streams, including AFEX-treated materials produced by MBI, and determine their applicability for value-added uses. Additionally, specific objectives include: Animal and Range Sciences 1) Determine the effect of supplemental glycerol on utilization of medium quality forage by mature beef cows. 2) Determine the impact of using de-oiled distiller’s grain-based supplement during gestation on subsequent reproductive function of cows and calf performance. 3) Determine whether extended feeding of glycerol in corn silage diets has carryover effects on beef carcass traits related to quality and cutability. 4) Determine the rate of fermentation of glycerol to propionate and how that affects ruminally degradable crude protein requirements. Dairy Science Department 1) Determination of the effects of replacement of starch provided by corn with digestible fiber provided by distillers grains in the diets of dairy cows. 2) Long-term growth and milk production of dairy heifers fed distillers grains. 3) Evaluation of residue from AFEX treated feedstocks for ethanol production as feedstuffs for dairy cattle. 4) Development and characterization of novel ethanol and bioenergy coproducts for dairy cows. Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Hospitality 1) The objective of this research is to incorporate distillers grains into baked food products, and to investigate ingredient functionality. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science 1) Investigate rainbow trout nutrient utilization and performance fed grower diet formulations with DDGS. 2) Investigate yellow perch nutrient utilization and performance fed grower diet formulations with DDGS. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department 1) Investigate extrusion processing of DDGS blends for yellow perch diets on a laboratory scale. 2) Optimize extrusion processing of DDGS-based yellow perch feeds on a pilot scale. 3) Study the effect of extrusion on survival of microorganisms in feed ingredients. 4) Develop a mathematical model to describe the extrusion process. 5) Continue to investigate the effect of various levels of solubles, drying conditions, cooling rates, and storage conditions on the resulting properties of DDGS 2) Develop a comprehensive computer model to simulate flowability problems, and then to validate the model using experimental data. Producer Outreach 1) Conduct surveys of dairy producers to better understand storage challenges and identify mycotoxins. 2) Evaluate utilization of DG in dairy diets and potential problems with preservation. 3) Three workshop field days, one per region (NE, EC, and SE), will be conducted on-farm. Results obtained in on-farm demonstrations will be published through SDSU CES Extension Extras, and mailed to all SD livestock producers.