Use of dried brewers' grains instead of soybean meal to feed lactating cows

Abstract

-The objective of this study was to determine the optimal level of dried brewers' grains (DBG) to replace soybean meal in diets for lactating Holstein cows. Five cows, around 88±28 days in milk, were distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square design and fed diets containing different levels of DBG (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%). The forage:concentrate ratio of the diet was 50:50. Feed intake, dry matter, nutrient digestibility, microbial synthesis, milk production and composition, and the economic viability of the diets were evaluated. There was reduction in dry matter intake and, consequently, in crude protein and non-fiber carbohydrates with increased levels of DBG. This occurred due to physical limitation of rumen caused by increased neutral detergent fiber intake. Ether extract intake also increased with levels of DBG due to higher concentrations of this nutrient in the diet. Apparent dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility increased with replacement of soybean meal by DBG. Milk production showed a quadratic effect and the levels of fat, protein, and total solids reduced linearly. Each 1% of soybean meal replaced by DBG in concentrate led to a reduction of 0.04, 0.02, and 0.06 g kg -1 of milk fat, protein, and total solids, respectively. The milk production efficiency increased linearly and the microbial synthesis efficiency was not affected. The economic return increased along with the DBG levels. Thus, DBG levels replacing up to 75% of soybean meal can be used to feed lactating cows, since it provides improvements in digestibility, milk production efficiency, and economic return without affecting microbial efficiency.Key Words: by-product, digestibility, intake, milk composition, protein, purine Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia

Brewer’s Spent Grains—Valuable Beer Industry By-Product

“…Due to their low fat and carbohydrate content, they should never be used as a complete independent feed, and they are most often served as an additive in combination with cereal shots, e.g., corn silage, green fodder, and protein-rich legumes. When applied in excessive quantities, they may cause diarrhea, decreased fertility of cows, and complications in the perinatal period [ 120 , 122 ].…”

Utilization of brewery wastes in food industry

“…Dry BSG also represents an alternative protein source for ruminants and can replace soybean. It is cheaper, but simultaneously has a comparable nutritional value ( Faccenda et al., 2017 ). BSG can provide ruminants with all essential amino acids when administered with cheap nitrogen sources.…”

“…It has been shown that up to 75% of soybean can be replaced by BSG in feed for lactating cows. In this amount, it increases digestibility and milk production ( Faccenda et al., 2017 ). BSG was found to have a positive influence on the production efficiency in cattle, without affecting fertility.…”

Growth performance and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility of limit-fed diets containing wet brewer’s grains to Holstein heifers

“…Wet brewer’s grains have been successfully used in feedlot heifers ( Homm et al, 2008 ), and data indicated that feeding 15% to 45% WBG on a DM basis in feedlot diets supports performance and carcass characteristics similar to or greater than that in cattle fed a typical high-moisture corn finishing diet. Research with lactating cows indicated that supplementing cows with WBG (15% and 30% of the diet) resulted in greater milk yield, fat, and protein contents than cows supplemented with soybean meal ( Murdock et al, 1981 ; Faccenda et al, 2017 ). Similar results were observed when corn silage was substituted with WBG at 9% ( Belibasakis and Tsirogogianni, 1996 ).…”

“…Similar results were observed when corn silage was substituted with WBG at 9% ( Belibasakis and Tsirogogianni, 1996 ). Greater milk yields and milk components are influenced by a better synchronization and presence of essential amino acids for milk synthesis, such as lysine and methionine that are high in WBG ( Faccenda et al, 2017 ). However, no research regarding the effect of feeding WBG to growing dairy heifers on their growth performance and nutrient utilization is available.…”