Storage Concept

The process of storing wet co-products is not much different, at least in process, from ensiling (storing) either corn silage or high-moisture corn. Oxygen is the enemy. Therefore, excluding air is key whether you are using a bunker storage facility or silo bags. It is not clear how much anaerobic fermentation occurs during storage.

The WDGS and WCGF are acidic, having a low pH (pH of 4-4.5 are not uncommon). Therefore, fermentation is likely minimal due to very acidic conditions. Theoretically, if all the air is excluded, storage can occur indefinitely with no spoilage losses. However, there may be some air exchange at least on the surface in bunker storage facilities. When wet co-products are mixed with forage, there may be fermentation of the forages but this has not been well documented.

The main challenge with storage of WDGS (35% DM, 65% moisture) is that the material is not able to be compacted during storage. Therefore, bulking agents are needed to either dry the material, to add bulk or both. Dry forages are the most logical source to add bulk to WDGS. However, other dry feeds may be used. Modified WDGS and WCGF appear to have enough bulk to be able to store in silo bags under pressure (300 psi or greater). It should be noted that WDGS (35% DM) can be stored in silo bags under no pressure with little risk of splitting bags (Figure 3). However, this storage method is less efficient in terms of storage area and use of bags and may allow for some air pockets with no pressure added to the bag.

For more information or to request additional copies of this manual, contact the Nebraska Corn Board at 1-800-632-6761 or e-mail kelly.brunkhorst@nebraska.gov

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Date published: May, 2008