Wet distillers grains plus solubles concentration in steam-flaked-corn-based diets: Effects on feedlot cattle performance, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation characteristics1

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of wet distillers grain plus solubles (WDG; <15% sorghum grain) concentration in steam-flaked corn (SFC) diets on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, ruminal fermentation, and diet digestibility. In Exp. 1, six hundred crossbred steers (364 ± 35 kg of BW) were used in a randomized complete block design with 8 replications/treatment. Dietary treatments consisted of a dry-rolled corn (DRC) control diet without WDG, a SFC control without WDG, and SFC with 4 WDG concentrations (15, 30, 45, 60% DM basis) replacing SFC, cottonseed meal, urea, and yellow grease. Final BW, ADG, G:F, HCW, and 12th-rib fat depth were greater (P ≤ 0.05) for SFC compared with DRC. Dry matter intake tended (P = 0.06) to be greater for DRC compared with SFC. Final BW, ADG, G:F, HCW, 12th-rib fat depth, and marbling score decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing WDG concentration. In Exp. 2, six ruminally and duodenally cannulated crossbred steers (481 ± 18 kg of BW) were used in a 6 × 6 Latin square design using the same diets as Exp. 1. Ruminal, postruminal, and total tract OM and NDF digestibility were not different (P > 0.14) for DRC compared with SFC. Ruminal and total tract starch digestibility were greater (P < 0.01) for SFC compared with DRC. Dry matter and OM intake were not different (P ≥ 0.43) among WDG treatments. Ruminal and total tract OM digestibility decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing WDG concentration. Intake, ruminal digestibility, and total tract digestibility of NDF increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing WDG concentration. Starch intake decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing WDG concentration. Ruminal starch digestibility increased (P = 0.01) with increasing concentration of WDG. Total tract starch digestibility decreased quadratically (P < 0.01) with increasing concentration of WDG. Feeding SFC improved steer performance compared with DRC. The concentration of WDG and corn processing method influences nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation. The addition of WDG in SFC-based diets appears to negatively affect animal performance by diluting the energy density of the diet.

Comparative feeding value of distillers dried grains plus solubles as a partial replacement for steam-flaked corn in diets for calf-fed Holstein steers: Characteristics of digestion, growth performance, and dietary energetics

“…Notwithstanding decreased starch intake and decreased ruminal OM digestion (Table 3), ruminal pH at 4 h after feeding was unaffected (P = 0.80) by level of DDGS substitution for SF corn. This response is consistent with several studies evaluating substitution of DDGS for corn in fi nishing diets (Ham et al, 1994;May et al, 2009May et al, , 2010Uwituze et al, 2010;Luebbe et al, 2011). In some cases (Peter et al, 2000;Leupp et al, 2009b), however, partial replacement of corn with distillers grains increased ruminal pH.…”

Utilization of New Nutritional Resources in Ruminant Feeding (3) Effect of Using Dried Distillers Grains With Solubles (Ddgs)as Protein Source in Rations for Lactating Friesian Cows

“…Generally, increasing DDGS levels in concentrate feed mixture showed significantly (P<0.05) higher digestibility coefficients for all nutrients except for EE digestibility and higher nutritive values of the rations when expressed as TDN, DCP or DE. Data were agreement with those obtained by Walter et al, (2012), Felix et al, (2012), Luebbe et al, (2012) and Leupp et al, (2009).…”

Effects of Replacing Dry-rolled Corn with Increasing Levels of Corn Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles on Characteristics of Digestion, Microbial Protein Synthesis and Digestible Energy of Diet in Hair Lambs Fed High-concentrate Diets

“…The high potential of the nutritional value of DDGS can be useful for replacing dry-rolled (DR) or steam-flaked corn in growing-finishing diets of beef cattle (Klopfenstein, 2008). However, it appeared that the feed value of distillers grains may vary by level of inclusion (Uwituze et al, 2010) and by the type of processing (DR or steam-flaked) of the corn grain that is replaced (May et al, 2009; Luebbe et al, 2012). The optimal responses (daily weight gain and feed efficiency) in feedlot cattle when DDGS has replaced corn grain in finishing diets have been observed with moderate levels (i.e.…”

“…The optimal responses (daily weight gain and feed efficiency) in feedlot cattle when DDGS has replaced corn grain in finishing diets have been observed with moderate levels (i.e. 20%) of DDGS inclusion as a replacement of steam-flaked grain (May et al, 2009; Uwituze et al, 2010; Luebbe et al, 2012). Leupp et al (2009) have reported that replacing DR corn with up to 60% DDGS in 70% concentrate diets resulted in no adverse effects on total tract OM digestion in steers, although ruminal OM digestion decreased and microbial production efficiency increased with increasing DDGS.…”