ABSTRACT
Ethanol coproducts are often added to beef cattle diets as a source of protein and energy, as discussed in the previous chapter (Chapter 12). They are also frequently used in dairy cattle diets. Protein can be degraded in the rumen to a variable extent, depending on the type of ethanol coproduct, while energy is supplied by fat and fermentable „ber. Mineral concentrations in ethanol coproducts can vary greatly, and this needs to be considered when formulating diets for livestock to prevent excessive or de„cient dietary mineral concentrations. As new or altered ethanol coproducts appear in the marketplace with further development of the ethanol industry, there is a need to characterize these products from a nutritional standpoint to determine inclusion rates that will optimize their use in dairy cattle diets.
