Feed intake, nutrient digestibility, milk production and composition in dairy cows fed silage of wet brewers grain

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the supply of wet brewers grain silage with and without nutrient additives in ensiling (wheat bran, soybeans hulls and ground corn), and the effect of additives on the intake and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients as well as the efficiency, production and milk composition of Holstein cows. Four multiparous Holstein cows were used, with an average milk production of 25 liters per day. The cows were randomly assigned, via the Latin Square design (4x4), to one of four experimental diets. The experimental period was 21 days. The results obtained in the experiment were evaluated by analysis of variance, Fisher's F test and Tukey's test at 5 % probability. The experimental diets consisted of wet brewers grain silage alone, and this silage with the addition of wheat bran, soybean hulls or ground corn. The diets did not affect the initial body weight of the animals. Diets containing wheat bran and ground corn provided a higher intake of dry matter (21.78 -1 DM) when cows were fed diets containing soybean hulls and ground corn, respectively, were higher than other diets. The different diets did not change daily milk production, milk production corrected for 3.5 % fat or milk composition. The milk urea nitrogen from cows fed ground corn diets was a lower concentration (17.67 mg dL -1 ), however, it was still above the suitable range (10 to 14 mg dL -1 ). Providing wet brewers grain silage with soybeans hulls or ground corn to Holstein cows increased the digestibility of dry matter and nutrients. However, the use of silages with wheat bran, soybean hulls or ground corn did not alter the efficiency, production or milk composition of cows fed with these silages. Key words: Nutrient additives. Agro-industrial by-products. Ground corn. Soybean hulls. Milk urea nitrogen. Wheat bran. ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar a inclusão do farelo de trigo (FT), casca do grão de soja (CGS) ou milho moído (MM) na ensilagem do resíduo úmido de cervejaria (RUC), e seus efeitos sobre o consumo e a digestibilidade da matéria seca e dos nutrientes, bem como, sobre a eficiência, produção e composição do leite de vacas da raça Holandês. Foram utilizadas quatro vacas da raça Holandês, multíparas, com produção média de 28 litros/dia, distribuídas no delineamento em quadrado latino (4x4), com quatro períodos experimentais de 21 dias e quatro silagens. As vacas foram alimentadas com dietas compostas por feno de Tifton 85, silagens do RUC e ração concentrada. Os tratamentos consistiram de silagem do RUC (SRUC), silagem do RUC com FT (SRFT), CGS (SRCGS) ou MM (SRMM). As dietas não interferiram no peso corporal dos animais. As inclusões do FT ou MM, na ensilagem do RUC, proporcionaram maiores consumos de matéria seca e matéria orgânica das dietas SRFT e SRMM. As maiores digestibilidades da matéria seca, orgânica, fibra em detergente neutro e proteína bruta foram observadas nas dietas SRCGS e SRMM. A produção diária, a produção corrigida para 3,5 % de gordura e a composição do leite não foram alteradas pela...

Nutritional quality of wet distillers’ grains co–ensiled with whole–plant maize and its feeding value for lambs

“…In the current study, lambs consuming WPM -WDGS had significantly lower ADG but the overall efficiency of feed utilization was no different from that of the animals consuming WPMS + SOM and WPMS + DDGS as shown by the FCR. The complementary effect of diet components was seen to play a significant role in improving WDGS's feeding values (Souza et al, 2016) such as an increase in DM and overall nutrient composition. Comparing wet or dried DGS as a supplement in growing steers consuming alfalfa hay plus sorghum silage, Ahern et al (2016) found that there were no differences in the form in which DGS was supplemented in terms of growth performance.…”

“…Distillers' grains with or without solubles are generally characterized by high protein, fat and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (Akayeza et al, 1998) which can, therefore, be considered a valuable feed option for ruminants. Furthermore, they contain a higher proportion of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) and have a lower starch content compared to the source grain (Souza et al, 2016) which is particularly important to adequately meeting the nutrient needs of fast-growing or high-producing animals.…”

“…Despite being an economical and good quality feed, the high moisture content of wet distillers' grains with solubles (WDGS) imposes storage, transport and high perishability constraints on farmers (Anderson et al, 2015;Moyo et al, 2016;Ranathunga et al, 2018). The high moisture content of WDGS easily results in the formation of mold, losing quality after four days under normal handling conditions (Souza et al, 2016;Moyo et al, 2016). Drying WDGS (40-70 % moisture) to produce dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS, 10 -13 % moisture) is costly and the heat processing during drying also renders DDGS more susceptible to protein damage and poor amino acid availability (Cao et al, 2009).…”

Adverse Effects of Wet Distillers Grains With Solubles (Wdgs) in the Diet of Dairy Cows

“…Despite being a potentially good option for economic and quality reasons, the high moisture content of WDGS imposes storage, transport, and high perishability constraints on farmers (Anderson et al, 2015;Moyo et al, 2016;Ranathunga et al, 2018). Such consistency easily results in the formation of mold and quality decrease aft er four days under normal handling conditions (Souza et al, 2016;Moyo et al, 2016). Drying WDGS (40 -70% moisture) to produce dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS, 10 -13% moisture) is costly, and the heat processing during drying can make DDGS more susceptible to protein damage and lead to poor amino acid availability (Cao et al, 2009).…”

Utilization of brewery wastes in food industry

“…It improves the milk yield and composition and does not negatively influence blood components of dairy cows or dry matter intake ( Belibasakis & Tsirgogianni, 1996 ; Chiou et al., 1998 ). Addition of BGS as feed for lactating cows increases the fat and protein content in milk ( West, Ely & Martin, 1994 ; De Souza et al., 2016 ). BSG addition (at the level of 35%) to the lamb diet was found to exert a positive effect on their growth performance (higher body weight and daily gains).…”