Ethanol Byproduct Feeds: Determining Accurate Fiber Content, Nutrient Composition and Variability, Storing with Low-Quality Forages, and Fiber Utilization in Finishing Diets

The growing ethanol industry has produced vast quantities of distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) in the wet (WDGS) and dry forms and Sweet Bran wet corn gluten feed (SB). Previous research has demonstrated that these byproduct feeds result in improved feeding values compared to grass in growing diets and corn in finishing diets, with positive economic returns. Four experiments were conducted to evaluate dry matter determination methods and variability of nutrient composition for WDGS, determining the accurate method for measuring NDF in corn and DGS, compare feeding WDGS mixed with straw as either fresh or ensiled, and evaluate fiber digestibility and metabolism characteristics for feeding WDGS and SB in finishing diets. Drying wet byproduct feeds at 60ºC for 48 h was similar to toluene distillation, but these were different compared to drying at 105ºC for 3, 8, or 24 h, vacuum oven drying, and Karl Fischer titration. Mean composition of WDGS was 31.0% CP, 11.9% fat, 0.84% P, and 0.77% S (DM basis). Variation of CP and P was small. Dry matter and fat varied more across ethanol plants than within and across days. Variation in S was greater in period 1, but decreased in subsequent periods and variation was similar within days compared to across days. Grinding corn samples through a 1-mm screen Tecator Cyclomill and using two doses of alpha-amylase during the relux process results in the most accurate NDF values. Using a pre-fat extraction step prior to the traditional NDF procedure results in more accurate NDF values for DGS. Increasing the level of WDGS from 30 to 45% DM and mixing this with straw resulted in increased ADG and G:F and feeding these mixtures as ensiled also resulted in improved ADG and G:F compared to feeding them as fresh mixes. Steers fed SB at 35 or 88% DM consumed more DM and NDF compared to feeding 35% WDGS. Feeding a Lactobacillus buchneri direct-fed microbial did not affect DM or NDF digestibility for feeding diets containing 35% SB or WDGS, but did increase digestibility for feeding 88% SB. Monitoring accurate DM and nutrient composition of DGS, and accurately determining NDF content of corn and DGS makes for useful information in evaluating fiber utilization of byproduct feeds in growing and finishing diets. Feeding WDGS stored with straw results in greater cattle performance compared to the fresh mix and using the DFM in 88% SB diets improves digestibility

Ethanol Byproduct Feeds: Determining Accurate Fiber Content, Nutrient Composition and Variability, Storing with Low-Quality Forages, and Fiber Utilization in Finishing Diets

The growing ethanol industry has produced vast quantities of distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) in the wet (WDGS) and dry forms and Sweet Bran wet corn gluten feed (SB). Previous research has demonstrated that these byproduct feeds result in improved feeding values compared to grass in growing diets and corn in finishing diets, with positive economic returns. Four experiments were conducted to evaluate dry matter determination methods and variability of nutrient composition for WDGS, determining the accurate method for measuring NDF in corn and DGS, compare feeding WDGS mixed with straw as either fresh or ensiled, and evaluate fiber digestibility and metabolism characteristics for feeding WDGS and SB in finishing diets. Drying wet byproduct feeds at 60ºC for 48 h was similar to toluene distillation, but these were different compared to drying at 105ºC for 3, 8, or 24 h, vacuum oven drying, and Karl Fischer titration. Mean composition of WDGS was 31.0% CP, 11.9% fat, 0.84% P, and 0.77% S (DM basis). Variation of CP and P was small. Dry matter and fat varied more across ethanol plants than within and across days. Variation in S was greater in period 1, but decreased in subsequent periods and variation was similar within days compared to across days. Grinding corn samples through a 1-mm screen Tecator Cyclomill and using two doses of alpha-amylase during the relux process results in the most accurate NDF values. Using a pre-fat extraction step prior to the traditional NDF procedure results in more accurate NDF values for DGS. Increasing the level of WDGS from 30 to 45% DM and mixing this with straw resulted in increased ADG and G:F and feeding these mixtures as ensiled also resulted in improved ADG and G:F compared to feeding them as fresh mixes. Steers fed SB at 35 or 88% DM consumed more DM and NDF compared to feeding 35% WDGS. Feeding a Lactobacillus buchneri direct-fed microbial did not affect DM or NDF digestibility for feeding diets containing 35% SB or WDGS, but did increase digestibility for feeding 88% SB. Monitoring accurate DM and nutrient composition of DGS, and accurately determining NDF content of corn and DGS makes for useful information in evaluating fiber utilization of byproduct feeds in growing and finishing diets. Feeding WDGS stored with straw results in greater cattle performance compared to the fresh mix and using the DFM in 88% SB diets improves digestibility

Total and Water Soluble Phosphorus Content of Feedlot Cattle Feces and Manure

The percentage of feedlot feces and manure P that is water soluble was 41% (not accounting for additional soluble P from urine) and 24% respectively. The interaction of feces and urine with minerals and metals reduced the water solubility of P in feedlot manure relative to feces. Increasing dietary P level increased manure P concentration and water solubility of manure. Manure P from cattle fed feedlot diets containing 0.30% to 0.50% P was 28% water soluble P. The water solubility of P in feedlot feces and manure is an indicator of the potential for P runoff from feedlots and fields receiving manure

Cattle CODE: An Economic Model for Determining Byproduct Returns for Feedlot Cattle

Cattle CODE — Coproduct Optimizer Decision Evaluator — is a model developed to predict performance and economic returns when byproducts are fed to finishing cattle. Four scenarios were evaluated to illustrate how the model works and to show sensitivity to corn price and distance from the ethanol plant, which resulted in positive returns for feeding WDGS, Sweet Bran, or DDGS up to 50% of diet DM and under 100 miles distance from the ethanol plant to the feedlot

Cattle CODE: An Economic Model for Determining Byproduct Returns for Feedlot Cattle

Cattle CODE — Coproduct Optimizer Decision Evaluator — is a model developed to predict performance and economic returns when byproducts are fed to finishing cattle. Four scenarios were evaluated to illustrate how the model works and to show sensitivity to corn price and distance from the ethanol plant, which resulted in positive returns for feeding WDGS, Sweet Bran, or DDGS up to 50% of diet DM and under 100 miles distance from the ethanol plant to the feedlot

Using a Modified \u3ci\u3eIn-Vitro\u3c/i\u3e Procedure to Measure Corn Bran Buoyancy

An in vitro procedure was modified to estimate rumen buoyancy of corn bran and fiber types. Inoculum was obtained from two beef heifers and mixed with McDougall’s buffer then distributed to the in vitro tubes for 30 hours incubation at 100 °F. Fibrous material formed a matte layer which was measured to describe buoyancy. Tubes contained 6g of a feedlot-type diet with 7.5% fiber type (alfalfa hay, grass hay, corn silage, or corn stalks), with no replacement or 25% replacement of the remaining corn with corn bran. Buoyancy declined over time. Alfalfa hay had the most positive effect on buoyancy of corn bran. This new method offers promise for describing rumen buoyancy

Comparing a Modified Dry By-product to Dry Distillers Grains with Solubles in Growing Calf Diets

A growing trial was conducted to contrast a new by-product, Dakota Bran Cake (DBRAN), against dry distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and evaluate the two by-products at two dietary inclusion levels on steer calf performance measurements. Diet treatments included 15% DBRAN, 30% DBRAN, 15% DDGS, and 30% DDGS, replacing a blend (70:30 ratio) of brome grass hay and alfalfa haylage (DM basis). Final BW, ADG, and DMI increased, while F:G decreased as the inclusion level for both of these by-products increased from 15 to 30% DM. DDGS significantly improved ADG and F:G compared to feeding DBRAN at both inclusion levels. Feeding DBRAN and DDGS in growing diets to steer calves improved performance at higher dietary inclusion levels, while DDGS tended to improve performance over DBRAN

Ethanol byproduct feeds: Nutrient composition and variability, determining accurate fiber content, storing with low-quality forages, and fiber utilization in finishing diets

The growing ethanol industry has produced vast quantities of distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) in the wet (WDGS) and dry forms and Sweet Bran wet corn gluten feed (SB). Previous research has demonstrated that these byproduct feeds result in improved feeding values compared to grass in growing diets and corn in finishing diets, with positive economic returns. Four experiments were conducted to evaluate dry matter determination methods and variability of nutrient composition for WDGS, determining the accurate method for measuring NDF in corn and DGS, compare feeding WDGS mixed with straw as either fresh or ensiled, and evaluate fiber digestibility and metabolism characteristics for feeding WDGS and SB in finishing diets. Drying wet byproduct feeds at 60ºC for 48 h was similar to toluene distillation, but these were different compared to drying at 105ºC for 3, 8, or 24 h, vacuum oven drying, and Karl Fischer titration. Mean composition of WDGS was 31.0% CP, 11.9% fat, 0.84% P, and 0.77% S (DM basis). Variation of CP and P was small. Dry matter and fat varied more across ethanol plants than within and across days. Variation in S was greater in period 1, but decreased in subsequent periods and variation was similar within days compared to across days. Grinding corn samples through a 1-mm screen Tecator Cyclomill and using two doses of alpha-amylase during the relux process results in the most accurate NDF values. Using a pre-fat extraction step prior to the traditional NDF procedure results in more accurate NDF values for DGS. Increasing the level of WDGS from 30 to 45% DM and mixing this with straw resulted in increased ADG and G:F and feeding these mixtures as ensiled also resulted in improved ADG and G:F compared to feeding them as fresh mixes. Steers fed SB at 35 or 88% DM consumed more DM and NDF compared to feeding 35% WDGS. Feeding a Lactobacillus buchneri direct-fed microbial did not affect DM or NDF digestibility for feeding diets containing 35% SB or WDGS, but did increase digestibility for feeding 88% SB. Monitoring accurate DM and nutrient composition of DGS, and accurately determining NDF content of corn and DGS makes for useful information in evaluating fiber utilization of byproduct feeds in growing and finishing diets. Feeding WDGS stored with straw results in greater cattle performance compared to the fresh mix and using the DFM in 88% SB diets improves digestibility. Keywords: cattle, distillers grains, fiber, gluten feed, storag

Effect of Source and Level of Sulfur on Rumen Metabolism and Finishing Performance

Five ruminally fistulated steers fitted with rumen gas extraction cannula plugs were utilized to quantify ruminal pH and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels produced at different times post feeding. Diets consisted of 1) 28.5% WDGS, 37.5% Sweet Bran®, 4% corn bran, 0% alfalfa hay; 2) 28.5% WDGS, 37.5% Sweet Bran, 7.5% alfalfa, 4% corn bran; 3) 44% WDGS, 44% Sweet Bran, 7.5% alfalfa; 4) 50% WDGS, 37.5% DRC, 7.5% alfalfa; and 5) 87.5% Sweet Bran, 7.5% Aafalfa. Dry matter intake was different (P = 0.05) across treatments. Steers fed diets containing 44% WDGS and 44% Sweet Bran had greater (P \u3c 0.01) levels of H2S compared to other diets; however, cattle fed 87.5% Sweet Bran produced less (P \u3c 0.05) H2S compared to the other four dietary treatments

Use of Dry-rolled Corn, Dry or Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles as an Energy Source in High Forage Diets for Growing Cattle

One hundred twenty crossbred steers were used to determine the energy value of distillers grains relative to corn in high-forage diets. Diets included dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS), wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) or dry-rolled corn (DRC), with sorghum silage, grass hay, and supplement. Each block of steers, by design, had similar dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) across treatments. In this study, WDGS and DDGS contained 120% and 114%, respectively, the energy of DRC when fed in forage-based diets