Evaluation of Wet Corn Gluten Feed in Diets for Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate responses of primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows to diets containing wet corn gluten feed (WCGF). In both experiments, WCGF replaced a mix of alfalfa hay, corn silage, and corn grain. In experiment 1, 32 primiparous Holstein cows (four pens with eight cows/pen) were used in two 2 x 2 Latin squares with 28-d periods. Cows were housed in free stalls and fed diets containing 0 or 20% WCGF dry matter (DM) basis. Cows fed WCGF consumed more DM and produced more energy-corrected milk (ECM) than controls. Production efficiency (ECM/DM intake) was not affected, but yield of milk components was improved by WCGF. In experiment 2, 24 multiparous Holstein cows were used in six 4 x 4 Latin squares with 28-d periods to determine the optimal dietary inclusion rate for WCGF. Cows were housed in a tie-stall barn and fed a total mixed ration twice daily. Treatments were 0, 20, 27.5, and 35% WCGF (DM basis). Cows fed WCGF produced more ECM than controls, but ECM did not differ among cows fed WCGF diets. Cows fed 20 and 27.5% WCGF consumed more DM as a percentage of body weight than those fed either 0 or 35% WCGF. Cows fed WCGF produced ECM more efficiently than controls. Percent milk fat was lower, but fat yield was not different when WCGF was added to diets. Milk protein and lactose yields were higher when WCGF was fed. Plasma glucose, alpha-amino N, and triglyceride concentrations were similar among diets in both experiments, but plasma urea N was higher for cows fed WCGF in experiment 2.

Milk Production of Dairy Cows Fed Wet Corn Gluten Feed During the Dry Period and Lactation

“…Nevertheless, diets containing WCGF were consumed in the greatest amounts, thus supplying more energy for milk production. This result supports the observations of others who evaluated the effects of feeding WCGF to lactating dairy cows (VanBaale et al, 2001).…”

“…total milk fat yield. These findings are in contrast with those of Boddugari et al (2001) but are similar to those of VanBaale et al (2001). Differences in the concentration of milk protein were not observed; however, since including the WCGF increased total milk yield, total protein yield was significantly higher for cows consuming the WCGF during lactation.…”

“…Results suggested that WCGF could be included at 36% of the ration DM without affecting intake, milk production, or composition. More recently, VanBaale et al (2001) observed that when cows were fed diets containing 20% WCGF, they consumed more DM and produced more milk than those consuming diets higher in alfalfa hay, corn silage, and corn grain. Observations in both of these studies were collected in shortterm crossover designs.…”

Effects of feeding three types of corn-milling coproducts on milk production and ruminal fermentation of lactating Holstein cattle

“…Several studies have demonstrated that compared with a control diet without coproducts, feeding traditional coproducts, such as dried distillers grains plus solubles or wet corn gluten feed, results in increased intake and enhanced milk yield when fed to Holstein dairy cows (Nichols et al, 1998;VanBaale et al, 2001;Leonardi et al, 2005). However, research evaluating diets formulated to contain newly available coproducts is limited.…”

Evaluation of protein fractionation and ruminal and intestinal digestibility of corn milling co-products

“…Corn milling co-products have been successfully included in lactating dairy rations (VanBaale et al, 2001;Anderson et al, 2006;Kleinschmit et al, 2006;Kononoff et al, 2006;Janicek et al, 2007). Practically, the inclusion of corn milling co-products is often limited because the chemical composition and nutrient availability of these feeds is poorly understood or characterized.…”