Effect of corn processing method and corn wet distillers grains plus solubles inclusion level in finishing steers

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of corn processing method and corn wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) level on steer performance and metabolism. In Exp. 1, 480 crossbred steer calves (314 +/- 18 kg of BW) were used in a finishing experiment with a randomized complete block design and a 3 x 4 treatment structure. Diets were based on dry-rolled (DRC), high-moisture (HMC), or steam-flaked corn (SFC) with increasing levels of WDGS (0, 15, 27.5, or 40%; DM basis). A corn processing x WDGS level interaction (P < 0.01) was observed for ADG and G:F. Average daily gain and G:F increased linearly (P < 0.01) in steers fed DRC; ADG increased quadratically (P = 0.04) and G:F increased linearly (P = 0.02) in steers fed HMC; and ADG decreased quadratically (P = 0.02) with no change in G:F (P = 0.52) in steers fed SFC as WDGS increased. In Exp. 2, 7 ruminally fistulated steers (440 +/- 41 kg of BW) were used in a 6-period crossover design with 3 x 2 factorial treatment structure. Diets were the same as those fed in Exp. 1, except they contained only 2 levels of WDGS (0 or 40% of diet DM). Total tract starch digestibility was greater (P < 0.01) for steers fed SFC than for steers fed DRC or HMC. Minimum ruminal pH was less (P < 0.01) for steers fed SFC than for steers fed HMC or DRC. Variance of ruminal pH was different among all 3 processing methods with DRC < HMC < SFC (P < 0.10). In situ 22-h DM digestibility of DRC and HMC and starch digestibility of DRC were greater (P < 0.10) in steers fed DRC compared with steers fed HMC or SFC. Steers fed 0% WDGS had less (P < or = 0.02) intake of DM, OM, NDF, and ether extract compared with steers fed 40% WDGS. Total tract digestibility of DM and OM was greater (P < or = 0.08) and digestibility of ether extract tended (P = 0.11) to be less for steers fed 0% WDGS compared with steers fed 40% WDGS. Maximum ruminal pH and pH variance were greater (P < or = 0.08) in steers fed 0% WDGS. A corn processing x WDGS level interaction (P = 0.09) was observed for ruminal acetate to propionate ratio (A:P). Within diets containing 0% WDGS, A:P in steers fed SFC was less (P < or = 0.08). In diets containing 40% WDGS, A:P was similar between processing methods and not different from the SFC with 0% WDGS. The corn processing x WDGS level interaction observed in the finishing experiment may be due to the decreased ruminal A:P in DRC and HMC diets with 40% WDGS.

Nutritional and management methods to decrease nitrogen losses from beef feedlots1

“…Feeding WDGS improves performance and is equal to or greater in energy value than corn, depending on type of distillers grains, type of corn processing, and inclusion level (Klopfenstein et al, 2008). However, feeding distillers grains also decreases digestibility due to the greater fiber content relative to corn (Corrigan et al, 2009;Vander Pol et al, 2009), which may act similar to previous research discussed evaluating diets with less digestibility. Therefore, Luebbe et al (2007a,b) conducted a 1-yr-long mass balance experiment to determine the impact of feeding 0, 15, or 30% WDGS in place of corn.…”

BOARD-INVITED REVIEW: Use of distillers by-products in the beef cattle feeding industry1

“…Drouillard et al (2005) also obtained less response to the combination of WDGS and SFC than expected and suggested the optimal level of WDGS was less than the 30% level used by Vander Pol et al (2006a). Corrigan et al (2007) evaluated the interaction between WDGS inclusion and grain processing method. The WDGS was fed at 0, 15, 27.5, and 40% of DM in Means within a row with unlike superscripts differ (P < 0.05).…”

Effect of distillers grains moisture and inclusion level in livestock diets on greenhouse gas emissions in the corn-ethanol-livestock life cycle

“…Prediction equations of growth performance of feedlot cattle fed WDGS were developed from 20 feedlot cattle finishing studies with 350 pen means representing 3,365 steers (Larson et al, 1993;Ham et al, 1994;Al-Suwaiegh et al, 2002;Vander Pol et al, 2005;Godsey et al, 2008a,b;Luebbe et al, 2008;Meyer et al, 2008;Wilken et al, 2008;Corrigan et al, 2009;Rich et al, 2009;Vander Pol et al, 2009;Loza et al, 2010;Moore et al, 2010;Nuttelman et al, 2010;Rich et al, 2010;Sarturi et al, 2010). Equations for MDGS were also developed from 4 University of Nebraska-Lincoln feedlot studies with 85 pens representing 680 steers (Adams et al, 2007;Huls et al, 2008;Luebbe et al, 2008;Nuttelman et al, 2010).…”