Systems study of the potential integration of US corn production and cattle feeding with manufacture of fuels via fermentation

The results of a study of the feasibility of making corn grain available for conversion into motor fuel ingredients without undue disruption of the price structure for beef and other meat products that are now dependent on inexpensive corn grain are presented. Corn grain for cattle feeding would be replaced by corn stover and supplemented with distillers dried grains and solubles (DDGS), a by-product of ethanol fermentation from corn grain. Thus, the unique capability of ruminant animals to use cellulose as the carbon source for meat production could be exploited, and as a result of ethanol fermentation, the protein contained in the corn grain and in the yeast could be used for livestock production. The nutritional value of corn stover in mixtures with DDGS probably would not satisfy the needs of feedlot operators. However, the high potential of the proposed system, and concern over the validity of existing corn stover nutritional data, strongly justifies cattle feeding trials. Upgrading of corn stover by the Iotech Process, Purdue Process, or alkali could increase the nutritional value but also would increase the cost of the cellulose material. The production of even one billion gallons of ethanol from corn grain in Midwestern states wouldmore » lead to six times the present production of DDGS. This additional DDGS would compete with soybean meal, depressing prices for the soybean farmers.At the same time, the price of corn would be expected to rise, perhaps as high as $3 per bushel from a base of $2.27 per bushel. Because of these drastic anticipated changes in corn and soybean prices through implementation of this system, attractive beef prices may not result. Furthermore, the rise in corn grain prices and decline in DDGS prices are the opposite of what is needed for production of inexpensive ethanol from corn grain. These effects may not be observed in practice if land formerly devoted to soybean production could be utilized to grow additional corn.« less