TOXICITY ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF ETHANOL CO-PRODUCTS IN RUMINANT RATIONS

摘要

In recent years the federal mandate for increased use of renewable fuels has led to a rapid increase in the production capacity and distillation of fuel grade ethanol. The increased demand for corn to be used in ethanol production has led to a significant increase in shelled corn prices and has resulted in increased feed cost for many livestock producers. For instance, in Iowa the average per bushel cost of corn increased from a recent annual low of 1.78 doller in 2000 to 4.62/ doller bushel at present (Feb 2008). This change in market demand has resulted in renewed interest in the use of ethanol co-products as an alternative to corn in livestock rations. In many cases the use of these products is economically advantageous and results in comparablegrowth and health of livestock. The economic advantage afforded by individual co-products varies somewhat based on proximity to the ethanol plant, ability to transport the co-product and on-farm storage facilities. Increased time and energy has been focused on researching optimum inclusion rates and performance of livestock on rations including these products. For more information on these aspects of co-product use the reader is referred to other good sources. The focus of this manuscript will be a brief review of the ethanol production processes, their associated co-products and the health issues that have been recognized to be associated with the use of ethanol co-products in livestock rations. It is important to remember that the majority of these toxicological issues have only recently be recognized and research into these areas of by-product use is still in its infancy. As a result, very little peer-reviewed literature is available on this topic and the information presented in this manuscript is based on clinical experience and impressions. Future research is clearly necessary to define the pathophysiology and toxicological significance of many of these observations.