Distillers grains are the grain solids that remain after grain is fermented and distilled in an alcohol production process. The two common types of distillers grains are wet distillers grains (WDGs) and dried distillers grains (DDGs). DDGs are simply WDGs that have been dried to prolong shelf-life and reduce transportation costs.
Where do distillers grains come from?
The brewery and ethanol industries are the two main sources of distillers grains. The majority of distillers grains in the United States come from ethanol production. After the alcohol manufacture’s grain is fermented, the liquid alcohol is distilled from the remaining solid grain particles. These solid grain particles are further processed into distillers grain and corn syrup.
What are distillers grains used for?
Distillers grains are used as food for livestock such as cattle, horses, pigs, poultry and sheep. Aemetis produces more than 400,000 tons of wet distillers grains per year in Keyes, California, which is shipped throughout the Central Valley for use at cattle feedlots.
