Not Just Fuel-Feed and Food, Too
Ethanol plants make more than just ethanol. The ethanol production process
results in additional co-products that have market value in livestock
production and food processing:
Distillers grains are a valuable co-product of dry grind
ethanol production. This feed is used in livestock rations, primarily
for ruminant animals such as dairy and beef cattle-but it is also fed
to swine and poultry. Distillers grains are high in protein, fiber and
fat-providing an excellent source of nutrition and energy for livestock.
The Heron Lake BioEnergy plant will have the capacity to produce 160,000
tons of dried distillers grains annually for feeding to local and nationally
grown livestock.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is another co-product of ethanol
production that, after further processing, is marketable to soft drink
bottlers, food processors and other industries. |