Maize Germ: Oil Content, Uses and Bulk Buying Guide
Maize germ is the oil-rich embryo separated from the maize kernel during milling. Wet-milled germ carries about 45% to 50% oil and goes to oil mills for corn oil extraction, while dry-milled germ holds roughly 18% to 27%. After the oil is pressed or extracted, the de-oiled cake, sold in India as makka khal, becomes a protein feed for dairy cattle.
This guide explains where maize germ comes from, how wet and dry milling change its quality, what it is used for, and what to put in a bulk purchase contract.
What is maize germ?
A maize kernel has three main parts: the endosperm (mostly starch), the pericarp or hull (fibre), and the germ, the embryo that would grow into a new plant. The germ is small by weight but holds most of the kernel’s oil, along with protein, vitamins and minerals. Mills separate it because oil in the starch or grits stream lowers product quality, and because the germ is valuable on its own.
India’s maize supply has grown quickly. Production reached a record 55.093 million tonnes in 2025-26, up from 43.409 million tonnes the year before, according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s third advance estimates. Ethanol has become a major outlet: in the 2025-26 ethanol supply year, maize accounted for 258 crore litres, about 36% of total ethanol production. More maize through starch and ethanol plants means more germ, DDGS and husk entering the market.
Wet-milled vs dry-milled maize germ
How the germ is separated decides how much oil it carries.
| Factor | Wet-milled germ | Dry-milled germ |
|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | Starch plants (steeping and wet separation) | Dry millers making grits and flour, some ethanol plants |
| Oil content | About 50% | About 18% to 27% |
| Separation method | Germ floats off in the slurry because of its high oil content | Tempering, grinding, sifting and aspiration |
| Typical use | Corn oil extraction | Oil extraction and feed |
Oil figures from US Patent 6388110. In wet milling, the 40% to 50% oil content makes germ less dense than other particles, so it floats and is skimmed off. A USDA study of conventional and modified milling found germ fractions ranging from 18% to 41% oil and 13% to 21% protein depending on the process.
Neshiel’s maize germ is specified at 45% minimum fat, which places it in the wet-milled, oil-mill grade.
Uses of maize germ
Corn oil extraction
The main use. Germ is flaked and conditioned, typically heated to about 100°C, then pressed in expellers, solvent-extracted, or both. Wet-milled germ usually needs two-step extraction because a single pass rarely recovers all the oil. The crude oil is then refined into the corn oil sold for cooking and food manufacturing. For the downstream product, see our guide to refined corn oil procurement.
Full-fat germ in animal feed
Some feed mills use germ without extracting the oil, as a dense energy source for poultry, pig, cattle and pet feeds. Neshiel lists animal nutrition and feed mixtures among its germ’s uses.
De-oiled germ meal and maize oil cake
What remains after oil extraction is germ meal, a protein and fibre feed ingredient. Expeller cake still holds some residual oil, which adds energy to the ration.
Maize oil cake (makka khal) for dairy cattle
Maize oil cake is the expeller cake left after pressing oil from maize germ. In India it is known as makka khal, makka pina or makai khol, and Neshiel supplies it in 40 kg bags for cows and buffaloes. Dairy farmers use it as a protein supplement alongside green fodder and other cakes such as cottonseed and mustard cake, with the aim of supporting milk yield and quality.
When buying maize oil cake, check protein, residual oil, moisture and freedom from mould. Like all oilseed cakes, it should be tested for aflatoxin, which grows in maize stored warm and damp.
Maize germ vs DDGS
Both are maize by-products used in feed, but they are different materials. Germ is a physical fraction of the kernel separated before processing, high in oil. DDGS (distillers dried grains with solubles) is what remains after an ethanol plant ferments the starch out of whole ground maize, higher in protein and fibre and lower in oil. Our article on corn DDGS covers that product in detail.
Maize germ specifications to check
| Parameter | Neshiel specification | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Fat (oil) | 45.0% minimum | Sets oil yield and the price the germ is worth |
| Moisture | 5% maximum | Wet germ heats in storage and its oil degrades |
| Free fatty acid (FFA) | 3.0% maximum | High FFA raises refining losses in the oil |
| Appearance | Yellow, free of rancidity | A rancid smell signals oxidised oil |
Moisture and FFA are linked. Germ that is stored damp or too long develops rising FFA as enzymes break the oil down, and every point of FFA becomes refining loss for the oil mill. Ask for FFA at loading and test on arrival, especially in the monsoon.
Storing maize germ
Germ is the most perishable part of the maize kernel because of its oil. Store it in a cool, dry, ventilated godown on pallets, not on bare floors. Use stock on a first-in, first-out basis and avoid long holding periods, particularly between June and September when humidity is high. Watch for warmth inside bags or heaps, a musty or rancid smell, and caking, all signs that moisture is too high and FFA is climbing. Oil mills that buy in large lots often test FFA weekly on stored germ and prioritise the lots that are rising fastest.
Buying maize germ in bulk
- Agree on oil content and FFA limits, and how price adjusts if a lot misses them.
- Confirm whether the germ is wet-milled or dry-milled; the oil difference is large.
- Specify moisture at loading and arrange quick unloading to avoid heating in transit.
- Ask for aflatoxin results if any of the germ or cake will go into feed.
- Plan around harvest and starch-plant schedules for steady supply.
Neshiel supplies Indian maize germ with a minimum order of 20 MT. For the fibrous fraction of the same crop, see our guide to corn husk uses.
Need maize germ for an oil mill or feed plant? Ask Neshiel for current availability and pricing, or see the maize germ specification.
Frequently asked questions
What is maize germ used for?
Mainly for extracting corn oil. It is also used in animal feed, either full-fat or as de-oiled germ meal and oil cake.
How much oil is in maize germ?
Wet-milled germ holds about 45% to 50% oil; dry-milled germ holds roughly 18% to 27%.
What is the difference between maize germ and maize oil cake?
Maize germ is the raw embryo separated from the kernel. Maize oil cake (makka khal) is what remains after oil has been pressed out of the germ.
Is maize oil cake good for cows?
It is widely used as a protein supplement for dairy cattle and buffaloes in India. Buy tested material that is free of mould and aflatoxin.
