Brewer's yeast is a co-product produced during the beer brewing process.
Other co-products of this process include brewer's grain and feed beer. Brewer's yeast is an interesting co-product that is used for various purposes. Thanks to its high B-vitamin and chrome content, it is sometimes used in the production of pills and powder for human consumption. On top of that, brewer's yeast, in both both dry and liquid form, is used as animal feed. Brewer's yeast is an excellent source of nutrition for piglets, sows and porkers.
Are you curious as to how brewer's yeast is produced? Would you like to know how you can use brewer's yeast in your rations? Find out more here.
How is brewer's yeast produced?
Brewer's yeast is produced in the stage of the brewing process at which the yeast cells are separated from the ‘green beer’.
To brew beer, the grain, generally barley, is first germinated. This process is called malting and it forms the first step of the brewing process. The grains are dried, resulting in wort, which is ground and mixed with water. This yields a mash that is heated to various temperatures and then boiled. The mash is then filtered. The filtered fluid ‘wort’ is used to brew beer. The residue of this process is called brewer's grain (or draff), which is another valuable by-product of the brewing process. The wort is boiled and hops are added to give the beer its characteristic flavour. Afterwards, the yeast is added. Among other things, the yeast turns the sugars in the mixture into alcohol. During the first fermentation stage, the wort turns into green beer. Next, the yeast cells are separated from the green beer. The separated yeast is called brewer's yeast.
Brewer's yeast is a valuable addition to pig rations. Do you want to know more?
Brewer's yeast is a valuable addition to pig rations.
Brewer's yeast can be fed to pigs in both liquid and solid form. At Looop, we carry liquid brewer's yeast. Brewer's yeast has a high protein content. Proteins are essential nutrients for the pig's growth, reproduction and milk production. The proteins have an excellent amino acid composition and fit the pig's needs. This by-product is similarly rich in B vitamins. These vitamins contribute to the health of the animal. The alcohol content of this product, which ranges from 5 to 7%, is a great energy source for the pig.
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Storage and shelf life of brewer's yeast
Looop carries the brewer's yeast by-product in liquid form. As such, it is delivered by tank lorry. Brewer's yeast is delivered in batches ranging from 25 to 30 tonnes.
Feed beer can be stored in an acid-resistant silo. In this case, the product should be regularly (gently) mixed. It is important to regularly clean the silo to safeguard the quality and shelf life of the product. In a clean silo, the feed beer has a shelf life of about four weeks.
Would you like more information about the storage and shelf life of brewer's yeast? Jasmijn will be happy to help you!
Do you have any questions or would you like more information?
Our product manager, Jasmijn, will be happy to help you!
Jasmijn van Wakeren
Quality, Nutrition & Sustainability Manager
Frequently asked questions about brewer's yeast.
- What is Brewer's yeast?
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Brewer's yeast is a co-product produced during the beer brewing process. This co-product is used for a variety of purposes. Thanks to its high B-vitamin and chrome content, it is sometimes used in the production of pills and powders. On top of that, brewer's yeast is used to supplement pig rations.
- How is brewer's yeast produced?
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During the brewing process, the barley is germinated. This process is referred to as malting. The grains are dried, resulting in ‘wort’, which is ground and mixed with water. This mixture is then heated to various temperature levels before being filtered. Afterwards, the filtered liquid is used in the brewing process. The liquid is boiled, and yeast is added to it. Next, the yeast cells are separated from the beer. The separated yeast is called brewer's yeast.
- What can brewer's yeast be used for?
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Brewer's yeast is a valuable addition to pig rations. This co-product can be fed to the pig in both dry and liquid form. The alcohol content of the brewer's yeast is an excellent energy source for the pig.
- What are the benefits of brewer's yeast in your rations?
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Brewer's yeast is rich in proteins. Proteins are essential nutrients for the pig's growth, reproduction and milk production. The co-product is also rich in B-vitamins, which have a positive effect on the health of your pigs.
- How should brewer's yeast be stored?
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Looop carries the brewer's yeast co-product in liquid form. It is delivered in a tanker containing 25 to 30 tonnes of brewer's yeast. Feed beer can be stored in an acid-resistant silo. It should be (gently) stirred regularly to achieve optimal quality and yield. In a clean silo, the brewer's yeast has a shelf life of about two weeks. Acidification can extend the shelf life by up to 6 weeks.