POET produces ethanol from starch in the corn kernel. DDGS is a high-value co-product of the non-fermentables in corn, such as protein, oil and other nutrients. POET annually sells over four million tons of Dakota Gold DDGS to a variety of animal feed markets.
On rare occasions, the chemistry of fermentation can be disrupted and an antimicrobial agent is used to control the contamination. For the last few years, POET had been developing and testing a new process that eliminates the need for antibiotics to control fermentation disruptions. The testing was done with participation of egg-farming customers and support from the United Egg Producers (UEP).
“POET partnered with UEP in a recently completed study showing that adding DDGS to layer diets can dramatically reduce ammonia emissions from the farm,” said Chad Gregory, senior vice-president at United Egg Producers. “Their antibiotic-free process is another example that demonstrates POET’s commitment to animal agriculture.”
“Since it was introduced more than 15 years ago, Dakota Gold has built a reputation for consistency and quality,” said Mark Giesemann, director of technical services at POET Nutrition. “We had to ensure that any adjustments in our process didn’t compromise that reputation. After a few years of testing and development, we’ve found that the DDGS from the antibiotic-free process are of the highest quality.”
