Iowa State University Extension is hosting a meeting at the Dunlap Livestock Auction on Wednesday, December 10th for local cattle producers to discuss the use of distillers grains in cow rations. This meeting will address feeding ethanol co-products in combination with low quality forages, like cornstalks or poor quality grass hay, to cows and back-grounded calves.

Using distillers grains in cow/calf operations can be advantageous, especially when it comes to enhancing low-quality forages. When producers feed these low-quality forges the energy level can fall below nutritional requirements, therefore supplementing a diet with energy or protein becomes necessary.

Distillers grains are high in soluble fiber and rumen-undegradable protein. When using distillers in a cow herd, it will have 110-125 percent of the energy value of corn, making distillers grains an excellent supplement for forage-based diets.

Product costs, storage and handling methods, ration balancing insights, and other management aspects will be some of the topics discussed. Presenters include Daryl Strohbehn and Darrel Busby, Iowa State University Extension Beef Specialists and Jeff McDonough from Amaizing Energy in Denison.

This will be an excellent meeting to mingle with area producers while learning the benefits of adding distillers grains to corn stover to make low cost rations. I addition, Amaizing Energy has announced some changes in their process that removes a portion of the corn oil prior to processing. Current users of distillers grains will want to learn how these changes affect their rations.

The event will start at 5:30p.m. and will include a meal and refreshments. The meeting and meal are FREE if preregistered by December 5th, to register please call 1-888-644-2105. If you are not preregistered the cost will be $5.00 at the door (to cover meal expenses). For more information please contact Kent Ganzer at 712-755-3104 or Clint McDonald at 712-644-2105.

The Dunlap Livestock Auction and Amaizing Energy are sponsoring this meeting.