The most prevalent by-product produced by the brewery factory is brewer's spent grain (BSG). A total of 70%, 10%, and 20% of the BSG produced are used for animal feed, biogas production, and landfills, respectively. Feeding wet brewery spent grain can avoid the cost of drying. Wet brewery spent grain is used as a replacement for forage in the diets of animals. The high moisture content and ease of deterioration of wet brewery leftover grain as a fresh feed are drawbacks (3–5 days). BSG is provided as a low-cost feed despite its greater perishability and microbiological instability. There are two significant challenges brought on by the BSG's higher moisture content (80%). First, transportation is expensive. Second, the abundance of proteins and polysaccharides in BSG promotes microbial development and deterioration. Therefore, these problems can be solved by utilizing various preservation methods, including drying (solar, freeze, and oven drying), freezing, ensiling (both alone and in combination with other animal feeds), and additives (Silo-King GPX preservatives, xylanase, carbohydrase (econase) and protease (alcalase), urea and lime, sodium formate, calcium propionate, formic and propionic acids, acetic acid, NaCl, NaOH, HCl, and H2SO4).

This study was conducted to examine the effect of different wheat straw and concentrate proportions on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth and reproductive performances of F1 cross breed (Boran X Friesian) dairy heifers. Wheat straw (WS) with 93% dry matter content was chopped (3-5 cm in length) and mixed with concentrate, molasses and water. The amount of water used for the preparation of total mixed ration was three fold of the molasses amount. Twelve dairy heifers (90.45 ± 7.37 kg LW, mean ±S.D) were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments (WS80= 80% WS: 20% concentrate; WS60 = 60% WS: 40% concentrate) and WS40 = (40% WS: 60% concentrate) in a completely randomized block design. The diets were offered ad-libitum and allowing 15-20% refusal. The experiment was consisted of 345 days of feeding trial and 7 days for the measurement of digestibility. Different wheat straw and concentrate proportion had no significant effect on organic matter intake of dairy heifers. In contrast, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intakes were greater when the heifers were fed WS40 versus the other treatments. The greater (P<0.001) DM, CP, ADF and NDF digestibility, feed conversion efficiency and growth rate were observed in WS40 than the other treatments. The greater (P<0.001) body weight at first service for dairy heifers was perceived in WS80 than the other dietary treatments. Conversely, the smallest age at first service, age at first conception and number of service per conception for dairy heifers was noticed in WS40 than the other dietary treatments. Raising dairy heifers by using 40% wheat straw and 60% concentrate can be recommended for practical application.

Brewers’ spent grain (BSG) is the amplest by-product of the brewing process. The fresh BSG is currently used as low-cost cattle feed due to its microbiological instability and high perishability. While recent research looked at the effects of storage time and temperature on the characteristics of wet brewers grains (WBG) as ruminant feeds. Three storage temperatures (15, 20, and 25 °C) and periods (2, 4 and 6 days) were arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial design. Surface spoilage was not apparent at 15 °C throughout the storage periods. Deterioration was not also observed at 20 °C until the fourth day of storage where slight mold growth was apparent. Extensive mold growth was detected late in the sixth day at 20 °C and continued manifestations up until the last day of storage at 25 °C. Changes in major nutrients, DM losses, and yeast and mold colony count were significantly affected by the interaction of storage temperatures and durations (P < 0.05). Except for samples stored at 15 °C, nutrients contents decreased concomitantly (exceptions are ADF, lignin, and loss in DM) with prolonged storage times (p < 0.05) and increasing temperatures (p < 0.05). Contrast analysis indicated that it would be safe to store under aerobic storage conditions and feed the WBG for dairy cattle.

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The in situ dry matter and crude protein degradability of grasses, legumes, browse trees and agro industrial by products were evaluated by three fistulated bulls (Boran × Holstein-Friesian with mean body weight 580 kg and age= 29±3 months). The lower (P < 0.05) crude protein content was reported in Bracharia grass than the other grasses. The higher (P < 0.05) washing loss rapidly soluble nutrients (a) in Bracharia and Rhodes grasses and the greater (P< 0.05) potential and effective degradability for dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) were observed in desho grass compared with the other grasses. The content of crude protein, relative feed value, washing loss or rapidly soluble nutrients (a) and potential DM degradability were higher (P< 0.05) in Sesbania than Pigeon pea and tree lucerne browse trees. Acacia nilotica and Wanza (Cordia African) had the greater (P< 0.05) washes loss (a), potential and effective degradability for dry matter and crude protein than the other browse trees. Cactus (Cleistocactus sextoianus) and Shola (Ficus sure) had the highest (P< 0.05) undegradable protein than Acacia nilotica and Wanza (Cordia african). The energy source feed (maize bran) had the greater (P < 0.05) potential and effective dry matter and crude protein degradability parameters than the other by products. The rumen undegradable protein was higher (P < 0.05) in vetch than lablab. The rumen undegradable protein was higher (P < 0.05) in Rhodes grass than the other forage grasses. Brewery spent grain and cotton seed cake have the higher (P < 0.05) rumen undegradable protein than Noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) cake, wheat and maize bran. The in situ dry matter and crude protein degradability values obtained in this study can be useful to identifying the best materials used for ruminant feeds.

Brewers’ spent grain (BSG) is the amplest by-product of the brewing process. Fresh BSG is currently used as low-cost cattle feed due to its microbiological instability and high perishability. While recent research has looked the effects of storage time and temperature on the characteristics of wet brewers grains (WBG) as ruminant feeds. Three storage temperatures (15°C, 20°C, and 25°C) and periods (2, 4 and 6 days) were arranged in a 3×3 factorial design. Surface spoilage was not apparent at 15 °C throughout the storage periods. Deterioration was not also observed at 20 °C until the fourth day of storage where slight mold growth was apparent. Extensive mold growth was detected late in the sixth day at 20° C and continued manifestations up until the last day of storage at 25°C. Changes in major nutrients, DM losses, and yeast and mold colony count were significantly affected by the interaction of storage temperatures and durations (P<0.05). Except for samples stored at 15° C, nutrients contents decreased concomitantly (exceptions are ADF, lignin, and loss in DM) with prolonged storage times (p<0.05) and increasing temperatures (p<0.05). Contrast analysis indicated that it would be safe to store under aerobic storage conditions and feed the WBG for dairy cattle.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is among the most common and inexpensive herbicides used to control broadleaf weeds in natural pasture. However, different studies have pointed out the risk of forage injury. Consequently, no research data on the productivity and nutritive value of natural pasture in response to different rates and times of 2,4-D application exists in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate natural pasture yield and nutritive response to 2,4-D application at different rates (1, 1.5, and 2 L·ha−1) and time (mid-July, early, and mid-August) with control. The experiment was designed as a factorial randomized complete block design with three replicates for two years. Grasses and legume proportions in the pasture were significantly influenced by the rate and time ( P < 0.05 ) of 2, 4-D application and their interaction ( P < 0.001 ). Interaction of rate and time of 2, 4-D application had a significant ( P < 0.05 ) influence on dry matter yield of legumes and non-significant ( P > 0.05 ) effect on forage portions (grasses + legumes) and grasses. Crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestible yield of pasture forage portions were not significantly ( P > 0.05 ) influenced by the rate and time of 2, 4-D application and their interaction. Weed dry matter yield was significantly affected by the interaction of rate and time of 2, 4-D application and mid-July application at 1.5 and 2 L·ha−1 gave the lowest yield. Therefore, to produce optimum quality and quantity of forage from natural pasture, the application of 2, 4-D in mid-July at 1.5 L·ha−1 is recommended.