Method of producing fermentation-based products from corn

Abstract

Corn oil and corn meal obtained from corn are included in useful products. A method for producing fermentation-based products comprises combining corn meal with water and an enzyme, and mixing the combination with a micro-organism capable of fermenting a carbon source to produce a fermentation-based product. The corn meal is produced by cracking whole corn, conditioning the whole corn and extracting the whole corn to produce corn meal without flaking the corn during processing. The corn grain process generally includes the steps of cracking corn grain having a total oil content of from about 3% by weight to about 30% by weight and extracting a corn oil from the cracked corn grain.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A feed ration containing a corn meal prepared from high oil corn, the corn meal having a protein:oil weight ratio of at least about 16.5% less than a protein:oil ratio for meal prepared from normal #2 yellow corn.  
   
   
       23 . The feed ration of  claim 22 , wherein the corn meal has a beta-carotene content of at least about 150 IU/100 grams.  
   
   
       24 . A feed ration containing a corn meal prepared from high oil corn, the corn meal having a protein:oil weight ratio of at least about 25% greater than a protein:oil ratio for meal prepared from normal #2 yellow corn.  
   
   
       25 . The feed ration of  claim 24 , wherein the corn meal has a beta-carotene content of at least about 150 IU/100 grams.