Abstract: Improved methods are provided for the production of consistent quality combined and/or pH-adjusted ruminant feed products using commercial byproducts (e.g., wet distiller's grain products (WDG) and solubles syrup derived from ethanol production) of variable ingredient make-up and density. In a preferred method, continuous streams of WDG and solubles syrup (12, 13) are monitored to determine respective parameters related to the instantaneous mass of the materials therein such as instantaneous density or mass, and such parameters are used to at least in part control the proportions of the WDG and solubles syrup streams (12, 13) used to make a combined product. If desired, these same parameters may be used to adjust the pH of the WDG stream or the combined product.

Abstract: Improved methods are provided for the production of consistent quality combined and/or pH-adjusted ruminant feed products using commercial byproducts (e.g., wet distiller's grain products (WDG) and solubles syrup derived from ethanol production) of variable ingredient make-up and density. In a preferred method, continuous streams of WDG and solubles syrup (12, 13) are monitored to determine respective parameters related to the instantaneous mass of the materials therein such as instantaneous density or mass, and such parameters are used to at least in part control the proportions of the WDG and solubles syrup streams (12, 13) used to make a combined product. If desired, these same parameters may be used to adjust the pH of the WDG stream or the combined product.

Abstract: Improved ruminant feeds are provided which include a pH-adjusted first ingredient selected from the group consisting of ruminant-edible, initially low pH commercial byproducts and initially low pH grain or forage-derived products, combined with a second ingredient comprising a high digestive efficiency feed grain such as flaked corn. An improved process (10) for the production of a ruminant feed (50) as an adjunct to a fuel ethanol plant is also provided wherein starch-bearing grain (12) is processed to yield ethanol (30) and whole stillage (32). The whole stillage (32) is then treated to remove water and to yield a wet distiller's grain product (WDG) (38). The pH of the WDG (38) is then elevated (46) by the addition of base to a pH of from about 5-8, and the pH-adjusted WDG (46) is optionally dried (47) and combined with a high digestive efficiency feed grain (HDEG) such as flaked grain (48).