Evaluation of dried distillers grains and roughage source in steam-flaked corn finishing diets1

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to evaluate effects of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and alfalfa hay (AH) or corn silage (CS) on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, ruminal fermentation, and diet digestibility in cattle fed steam-flaked corn (SFC) diets. In trial 1, crossbred heifers (n = 358; BW = 353 +/- 13 kg) were used in a finishing trial to evaluate interactions between corn-DDGS and roughage source (AH or CS) in terms of impact on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Experimental diets (DM basis) consisted of SFC and 11% CS without DDGS (SFC-CS), SFC and 11% CS with 25% DDGS (DDGS-CS), SFC and 6% AH without DDGS (SFC-AH), and SFC with 25% DDGS and 6% AH (DDGS-AH). Heifers were fed for ad libitum intake once daily for 97 d. Results indicated no interaction between DDGS and roughage source with respect to animal performance. Feeding DDGS did not affect ADG (P = 0.19), DMI (P = 0.14), or feed conversion (P = 0.67). Heifers fed CS had greater DMI than those fed AH (P = 0.05), but ADG (P = 0.56) and G:F (P = 0.63) were not different. There were no differences among treatments with respect to HCW, dressing percentage, subcutaneous fat thickness, quality grades, or yield grades (P > 0.20). Cattle fed CS tended (P = 0.10) to have greater marbling scores than those fed AH. There was an interaction (P = 0.02) between roughage and DDGS with respect to incidence of liver abscess. The greatest incidence was observed in cattle fed diets without DDGS when CS was fed, and the least was observed in cattle fed diets without DDGS when AH was used. In the second trial, ruminal fermentation characteristics and diet digestibility were examined in 12 cannulated Holstein steers fed similar diets to those fed in the finishing trial. Ruminal pH for all treatments was below 5.8 for 14 h after feeding. Acetate:propionate ratios were less (P = 0.02) in steers fed 25% DDGS but had greater (P = 0.02) ruminal lactate concentrations compared with cattle fed 0% DDGS. Feeding 25% DDGS decreased (P < 0.01) ruminal ammonia concentrations, and digestion of DM and OM was less (P < 0.01) compared with diets without DDGS. The decrease in digestibility was largely attributable to decreases in digestion of CP (P = 0.03) and NDF (P < 0.01). Feeding strategies aimed at increasing ruminal pH and ruminally available protein may improve digestion of DDGS in steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets.

Digestive development in neonatal dairy calves with either whole or ground oats in the calf starter

“…However, pH values in the Quigley et al (1992) study were also below 5.5, so other factors are likely responsible for conflicting observations. Diet composition may be a contributing factor; the concentration of NDF in the starter tested by Quigley et al (1992) was 37%, whereas in the present study and in Uwituze et al (2010), it was below 20%. In addition, starch concentration was high in the present and Uwituze et al (2010) studies, and starch can interfere with protein degradation (Bach et al, 2005).…”

“…A PP decrease in NH 3 concentration is not common, as microbial proteolytic activity usually results in an increased NH 3 concentration after feeding. However, a PP decrease in rumen NH 3 concentration was observed in steers fed diets high in steamflaked corn with 49% dietary starch concentration (Uwituze et al, 2010). In the same study, diets with about 65% starch did not show a PP rumen NH 3 decrease 2 h after feeding, but those diets had >1% NPN (urea) as an ingredient, which likely affected rumen NH 3 concentration.…”

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.…”

Abscesso hepático em bovinos: Revisão

“…Os autores verificaram um aumento na incidência de abscessos hepáticos, o que corrobora com um trabalho realizado por Beliveau & McKinnon (2008). Todavia, em um estudo realizado por Uwituze et al (2010) objetivando avaliar a inclusão de DDGS em dietas contendo milho floculado, e utilizando silagem de milho ou feno de alfafa como fonte de volumoso. Os autores verificaram maior incidência de abscessos hepáticos (11,1%) em bovinos submetidos a dietas com silagem de milho como fonte de volumoso e sem a inclusão de DDGS.…”