– Deidre D. Harmon and Kendra P. Phipps, Applied Animal Science 38:540–550 https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2022-02315
The craft brewing industry in the United States has seen major growth in the last 2 decades and in 2021 was a $26.8 billion industry with sales of 24,489,945 beer barrels (BBLS). According to data by the Brewers Association (2021) online database, the $100.2 billion US beer market is dominated by domestic beer, owning 65.9% of the total market share. However, the market share held by the craft brewing industry has grown from 5.68% in 2011 to 13.1% as of 2021.
The increase in market share and the rise of craft breweries across the nation can be attributed to the consumer demand for more bold and flavorful beers that have been brewed locally. Most of this growth has come in the form of microbreweries, taprooms, and brewpubs with the aid of a few regional craft breweries opening as well.
LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES
Despite positive nutritional characteristics, the high moisture content of wet brewers grain continues to be one of the most limiting factors for its use on beef cattle farms. In most scenarios, the economics of hauling wet feed long distances from production source to end user is not financially viable.
Seasonality of craft beer production poses yet another challenge for the adoption of wet brewers grain in beef cattle diets. In general, beer consumption increases during the summer months and during major holidays, such as the July 4th holiday and Labor Day. With increased demand comes the increased production of beer and availability of wet brewers grain. Typically, wet brewers grain stored in an uncovered pile during the hot summer months quickly deteriorates compared with wet brewers grain stored during the winter months.
LOCAL INTEGRATION OF WET BREWERS GRAIN IN NORTH CAROLINA
Some of the challenges of having a wet brewers grain contract with a small- to medium-sized craft brewery is that the grain must be picked up every day, especially when the brewery does not have an onsite storage silo for the grain. In many cases, grains are often dumped into storage totes, barrels, or dump trailers, which are left on site by the producer and are readily accessible by the brewery upon completion of a brew. It is then the farmer’s responsibility to empty the containers or dump trailer and leave the brewery with an empty container or trailer ready for the next brew to be dumped into. Sometimes, mechanical breakdowns at the brewery can delay grain pickup, and this may have to be done at unconventional hours.
In western North Carolina, there are 3 farm families that have worked together as a team to mitigate logistical challenges such as these and successfully incorporate WBG into their feeding programs. Some of their biggest accomplishments include the use of 3 dump trailers and a rotating 3-d pickup schedule for each family. The brewery that holds the contract does not have onsite storage and requires a dump trailer to be left at the brewery at all times. After brewing is complete each day, the full trailer must be picked up and an empty trailer dropped off. Each of the 3 families is scheduled to take an empty trailer and pick up a full trailer every third day. This schedule prevents each family from having to drive round trip every day and allows them to use all of the grain in a 3-day window to prevent spoilage before getting the next shipment. Some of the benefits of using WBG expressed by these farmers included increased stocking densities on their farms, especially in an area where urbanization is happening at an increased rate; decreased need for stored forages; ability to sell more hay or open an additional farm enterprise; cows with better BCS; cows weaning heavier calves; adding a high-quality feedstuff into the feeding program; and adding good quality family time when making the trip to get the WBG. Using this team approach, it may be possible for small- to medium sized beef cattle operations to take advantage of the rise of craft breweries in local areas.