Build Your Future!In recent years, the global cost of feed ingredients has been steadily rising, prompting many farms and feed factories to explore methods of how to make cheap cattle feed. Among various raw materials, distillers grains and similar by-products have become ideal low-cost options due to their high moisture content, affordability, and rich protein profile. These by-products mainly come from the brewing, starch, and soybean processing industries, providing essential nutrients and supporting different growth stages of cattle.
Start Low Cost Feed Mill Business with Distillers Grains Ingredients
This article systematically explains how to transform distillers grains into efficient, low-cost cattle feed, analyzing the characteristics of common raw materials, basic processing techniques, and feed formulation strategies for different cattle groups, helping users interested in investing in a plant or purchasing equipment understand the core processes and practical tips.
How to Make Cheap Cattle Feed Using Distillers Grains
Raw Material Selection → Choosing Suitable Distillers Grains
Distillers grains primarily originate from the brewing, starch, and soybean processing industries, including brewers dried grains, white spirits residue, soybean pomace, cassava residue, and sugarcane bagasse.
These materials share common features: high moisture, rich protein content, and low cost, making them ideal for reducing cattle feed expenses. For example, brewers dried grains contain 20%–25% protein, white spirits residue ranges from 16%–25%, and soybean pomace provides 25%–30% high-protein supplementation.
When selecting raw materials, consider the cattle type, feeding objectives, and local availability. It is recommended to choose fresh by-products from reliable sources and pay attention to moisture, acidity, and storage conditions, as these factors directly impact feed quality.
Basic Processing → Pre-Treatment Steps for Distillers Grains Feed
High-moisture, loose-textured distillers grains can ferment, mold, or cause digestive issues if fed directly. Therefore, basic processing is crucial for ensuring feed quality, which generally includes:
- Dehydration or Sun-Drying: Fresh distillers grains can have 70%–90% moisture, prone to spoilage. Mechanical dehydration or natural sun-drying reduces moisture to 10%–15% for stable long-term storage. For brewers dried grains and soybean pomace, dehydration also lowers transportation costs and facilitates grinding and mixing.
- Grinding or Chopping: Sticky or blocky grains (e.g., white spirits residue, soybean pomace) should be ground into pellets or powder to improve uniform mixing and digestibility for cattle.
- Pre-Mixing: Preliminary blending of different distillers grains can be done according to target formula ratios, with small amounts of vitamins or mineral supplements added to improve nutritional balance. Adding appropriate antifungal agents to easily fermentable materials can extend shelf life.
Small Animal Flat Die Feed Pellet Machine Line for Sale
Feed Formulation → Strategies for Different Cattle Groups
Different cattle groups have varying protein and energy requirements, so the inclusion ratio of distillers grains in feed must be adjusted accordingly:
- Calf Stage (Birth to Weaning): Calves require high protein. Use soybean pomace or brewers dried grains at 10%–20% of total feed, combined with quality roughage (like hay) and concentrates such as corn meal or soybean meal.
- Growth Stage (Weaning to Market Weight): Energy and protein needs increase; distillers grains can be raised to 20%–30%. Combine with high-energy feeds like corn, soybean meal, and molasses to ensure steady growth and weight gain.
- Fattening Stage (Market Weight to Sale): Focus on rapid weight gain. Increase white spirits residue and brewers dried grains to 30%–40%, paired with high-energy grains (corn kernels, mixed cereals) to provide sufficient protein and minerals. Adjust ratios gradually to prevent digestive issues.
Note: Formulas are for reference only and should consider local feed resources, cattle breeds, and environmental conditions. Introduce new ingredients gradually and consult a professional nutritionist or veterinarian for balanced and safe feed. Contact us to get customized animal feed making formulation design.
Pellet Processing (Recommended) → Feed Mill Machinery and Plant
Processing distillers grains into pellets improves feed stability, eases storage and transport, and increases feeding efficiency. The typical process includes:
Cattle Feed Mixer, Pellet Machine and Packaging Equipment
- Pelletizing: Feed pellet machines compress the mixture into 4–8mm pellets, adjustable according to cattle needs. Pelletizing reduces ingredient separation and waste while improving feed intake efficiency.
- Cooling and Sieving: Lower pellet temperature and remove fines to ensure product quality and output.
- Packing and Storage: Keep in a dry, ventilated environment to prevent mold and nutrient loss.
Equipment selection, capacity planning, and raw material pre-treatment are critical in feed pellet production. Contact us for professional feed production factory setup support to ensure your project succeeds.
Application Tips for Common Distillers Grains Cattle Feed
| Grain Type | Dry Matter % | Crude Protein % | Suitable Cattle | Max Inclusion (% of DM) | Key Restrictions | Application Tips & Operational Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Spirits Residue | 90–93 | 18–22 | Fattening Cattle | ≤30% | High acidity, residual alcohol may affect pregnant cows | Combine with high-energy grains to improve weight gain efficiency. |
| Brewers Dried Grains | 20–25 | 24–28 | Growing / Lactating Cattle | ≤15% | High moisture, prone to mold | Keep storage dry. |
| Soybean Pomace | 10–15 | 25–30 | Calves | ≤10% | Anti-nutritional factors | Rich protein; combine with energy sources (corn, molasses) for balanced nutrition. |
| Soy Sauce Residue | 10–15 | 20–25 | Calves / Growing Cattle | ≤15% | High salt | Rich in amino acids; control salt; pair with high-energy feed. |
| Pomace Residue | 10–20 | 15–25 | Growing / Fattening Cattle | 10%–30% | Relatively low digestibility | Combine with other energy and mineral sources. |
| Cassava Residue | 85–88 | 2–4 | Beef Cattle | ≤20% | Cyanogenic toxicity | Suitable as rough fiber supplement for beef cattle. |
| Sugarcane Bagasse | 92–95 | 1–2 | Dry Dairy Cows | ≤25% | High lignin | High fiber, low protein; combine with protein-rich ingredients. |
Tip: Most distillers grains are rich in protein but high in fiber and low in vitamins. Vitamins and minerals can be supplemented as needed in practical formulations.
Low-Cost Feed Mill Plant Setup — Project Showcase
The typical feed mill plant project uses local brewing by-products and soybean pomace as main raw materials, with an hour processing capacity of 2-4 tons, equipped with dehydration, grinding, mixing, and pelletizing machinery. Scientific formula design and pellet processing convert high-moisture by-products into stable, easy-to-store feed, reducing raw material costs by 30%–40%.
Commercial 2-4TPH Animal Feed Mill Plant Setup
The factory uses a modular layout, allowing flexible capacity expansion and maintaining ROI within 12–18 months, demonstrating high cost-effectiveness and replicability for small feed plants.
ABC Machinery is a professional manufacturer/supplier of animal (livestock and poultry) feed processing machinery. We provide full support from design to equipment configuration and capacity planning, helping clients establish feed factories in Nigeria, Canada, Australia, the USA, and other countries. Contact us to start your animal feed business! To learn more about animal feed production, including formulas, processing steps, and factory setup, send us your inquiry today.
