Evaluation of new by-products from ethanol production as feed for pigs

In pig production, there are significant opportunities to utilize by-products from industrial processes as feed and thereby refining them into food. In 2020, the share of by-products in Swedish pig production was approximately 27% of the total feed volume (fresh weight), of which 39% came from ethanol production. By-products from ethanol production are important feed ingredients, however as the industrial processes are changing the knowledge about the by-products and its feed value needs to be updated. 

The environmental impact of food production has been a major focus area over the past decade, and all efforts to reduce the negative environmental impacts of both plant-based and animal production are crucial. From a sustainability perspective, there is also a need to increase the usability of grain by-products to contribute to a more circular food system and reduce the amount of imported and expensive protein sources in pig feed.

By-products that will be evaluated in this project are the fiber-rich distillers grains that are produced using cereals where the wheat gluten already have been extracted before it is used for ethanol production. Additionally, there is uncertainty regarding the quality of distillers grains produced during ethanol production using agricultural products and industrial food by-products. Another interesting by-product is the fiber fraction generated during pea protein production. For all these by-products, information will be generated on nutrient composition and how the nutrients are utilized and absorbed in pigs’ digestion.

Project leader:

Emma Ivarsson, Senior Lecturer, THV, CV page

Project group:

Johan Dicksved, Professor, THV

Mikaela Lindberg, Professor, THV

Kerstin Sigfridson, Lantmännen Lantbruk

Sebastian Hallberg, Lantmännen Biorefineries