Utilization of distillers grains from the fermentation of sorghum or corn in diets for finishing beef and lactating dairy cattle

Abstract

Beef finishing and dairy lactation experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of distillers grains (DG) from sorghum or corn fermentation, in both wet (35.4% DM) and dry (92.2% DM) form (dairy trial only). In the finishing experiment, 60 yearling steers were used in a completely randomized design with three diets that were fed for 127 d: 1) control diet with 86% (DM basis) dry-rolled corn and no DG; 2) 30% of ration DM as wet corn DG in place of dry-rolled corn; and 3) 30% of ration DM as wet sorghum DG in place of dry-rolled corn. All diets contained a minimum of 6.8% degradable intake protein and 13.0% CP. Steers fed DG had 10% greater ADG (< 0.01) and 8% greater efficiency of gain (P < 0.01) than steers fed the control diet. Wet corn and sorghum DG resulted in similar ADG and efficiency of gain. Hot carcass weights, fat thickness, and yield grades were greater for steers fed DG than for controls (P < 0.07). Improvements in ADG and feed efficiency observed when DG replaced dry-rolled corn indicated that the NEg content of wet DG is approximately 29% greater than that of dry-rolled corn. In the dairy lactation experiment, 16 lactating Holstein cows (eight multiparous, including four fistulated) were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 4-wk periods. Corn and sorghum DG were fed at 15% of the ration DM in either wet or dry form. Diets were fed as total mixed rations that contained 50% of a 1:1 mixture of alfalfa and corn silages, 24.3% ground corn, and 9.1% soybean meal (DM basis). There was no effect of source or form of DG on DMI, ruminal pH and VFA, or in situ digestion kinetics of NDF from DG. Efficiency of milk production was unaffected by diet. Corn and sorghum DG resulted in relatively similar performance when fed to beef or dairy cattle in this study.

Use of Corn Dried Distillers Grains (DDGS) in Feeding of Ruminants

“…According to Al-Suwaiegh et al [25] and Anderson et al [30], the percentage of protein and lactose in milk in cows fed DDGS is similar to those fed WDGS. The growth in milk production and the percentage of casein fraction after the inclusion of DDGS in the feed ration of milking cows in the early stages of lactation have been shown (Figure 3) [20].…”

Performance and digestibility characteristics of finishing diets containing distillers grains, composites of corn processing coproducts, or supplemental corn oil1

“…Al-Suwaiegh et al (2002) attributed 42% of the overall improvement in NE g content of the diets to the fat content of distillers grains. The authors suggested that the remaining 58% may be attributed to the additions of yeast and yeast byproducts, excess protein used for energy, added moisture, cofactors, differences in the non-fiber carbohydrate fraction, or a reduction in subacute acidosis.…”

Distillers dried grains with solubles compared with rapeseed meal in rations of dairy cows

“…It has not been sufficiently investigated if all kinds of DDGS are equally applicable to RSM, rapeseed expellers or soyabean meal in rations of high-yielding dairy cows, especially when high proportions of DDGS are used. Investigations on the nutrient value of distillers dried grains mainly originate from the USA and therefore are predominately based on maize as the raw material (Palmquist and Conrad, 1982;Van Horn et al, 1985;Powers et al, 1995;Al-Suwaiegh et al, 2002;Anderson et al, 2006;Kleinschmit et al, 2007;Janicek et al, 2008). Only a few studies exist on the equivalent applicability of DDGs from wheat or wheat and barley in dairy cow feeding (Dunkel, 2005;Spiekers et al, 2006;Urdl et al, 2006;Ettle, 2007).…”