Corn or sorghum wet distillers grains with solubles in combination with steam-flaked corn: Feedlot cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and apparent total tract digestibility1

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of corn (CDG) and sorghum (SDG) wet distillers grains with solubles on feedlot cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and apparent total tract digestion of nutrients. In Exp. 1, 224 steers were used in a randomized complete block design (initial BW 391.1 +/- 9.51 kg) and fed steam-flaked corn (SFC)-based diets consisting of (DM basis) 0% distillers grains (CON), 15% SDG, 30% SDG, 15% CDG, 30% CDG, 15% of a 50:50 blend of SDG and CDG, and 30% of a 50:50 blend of CDG and SDG. Decreased carcass-adjusted final BW and HCW (P < or = 0.05) were noted as the inclusion amount of distillers grains increased in the diet. Body weight gain efficiency did not differ among the CDG, 50:50 SDG and CDG blend, and CON treatments, but G:F was numerically less with either amount of SDG than for CON, and decreased (P < or = 0.05) as distillers grains were increased from 15 to 30%. Cattle fed CON had greater carcass yield grades than those fed the distillers grain diets (P < or = 0.05). In Exp. 2, crossbred beef steers (n = 36; initial BW 567.3 +/- 53.1 kg) were used in a generalized randomized block design and fed SFC-based diets with 0% distillers grains (CON) and 15% (DM basis) CDG or SDG. Digestibility was determined with a pulse dose of Cr(2)O(3). Feeding steers 15% CDG or SDG increased intakes of CP and NDF (P < or = 0.05), but intakes of DM, OM, and starch did not differ among treatments (P >o r = 0.07). Apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, and starch (P > or = 0.25) did not differ among the 3 treatments. Fecal pH averaged over all sampling times was not affected by treatment, nor were average fecal pH values for prefeeding samples (0, 24, 48, and 72 h after the pulse dose) or for samples taken after feeding (12, 36, and 60 h after the pulse dose; P > or = 0.11). Results suggest that with 15% distillers grains in the DM, G:F was similar for cattle fed the CDG, 50:50 SDG and CDG blend, and CON diets. Feeding 30 vs. 15% distillers grains decreased G:F, but including 15% CDG or SDG in SFC-based diets did not affect apparent total tract digestibilities in feedlot steers.

Effects of roughage source and distillers grain concentration on beef cattle finishing performance, carcass characteristics, and in vitro fermentation1,2

“…The results of May et al (2010c) support our findings, in that DG concentration did not affect calculated NE m or NE g concentrations. In contrast to our findings, how-ever, May et al (2010a) noted decreased total dietary NE m and NE g with 30 vs. 15% DG in finishing diets.…”

“…Likewise at 105 DOF, no differences were detected (P > 0.16) between DG concentrations for G:F. Nonetheless, over the entire feeding period, cattle fed 15% DG had increased (P < 0.02) G:F relative to those fed 30% DG either on a shrunk BW basis or a carcass-adjusted basis. As noted previously, the differences in G:F with respect to dietary DG concentration are consistent with reports of Klopfenstein et al (2008), Depenbusch et al (2009), andMay et al (2010a), in which increasing DG concentration beyond 15% in SFC-based diets led to a diminished response in G:F.…”

“…With respect to the effect of roughage source, cattle fed DG with AH as the roughage source had decreased (P < 0.02) ADG for d 0 to 105 and d 0 to end compared with the average of cattle fed the BG and SS diets. The results of the current study for final shrunk BW and carcass-adjusted final BW are consistent with the findings of May et al (2010a), who fed finishing steers corn or sorghum wet DG or a 50:50 blend of corn and sorghum DG at 15 or 30% (DM basis) of SFC-based finishing diets. These authors reported decreased final BW and adjusted final BW for steers fed 30 vs. 15% DG, as well as decreased BW and ADG for steers fed DG relative to the control treatment (no DG).…”

Factors affecting the ruminal microbial composition and methods to determine microbial protein yield. Review

“…With this approach, the concentration of iADF in samples is determined after a 288-h in situ incubation in the rumen. Intestinal digesta flow is then calculated based on the amount of the marker fed (iADF) or dosed (Cr2O3) and the concentration of the respective marker in duodenal samples (61) . From these values, the flow of microbial protein; and thus, its contribution to total metabolizable protein is estimated.…”

Nutritive Value of Sorghum Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles and its Effect on Performance in Geese

“…sDDGS is rich in crude fat (8.8-13%), crude protein (32.9-35.9%), and amino acids (0.38-6.92%) (Al-Suwaiegh et al, 2002;Urriola et al, 2009). Recently, sDDGS has been successfully used as an energy and protein source to feed beef and lactating dairy cattle (Al-Suwaiegh et al, 2002;Gill et al, 2008;Van Overbeke et al, 2008;May et al, 2010), pigs (Stein and Shurson, 2009;Urriola et al, 2009), and broilers (Barekatain et al, 2013a, b).…”