Evaluation of Mixing Characteristics of Diets Containing Modified Distillers Grains

Six mixes of feed were manufactured and analyzed to determine how sequence of ingredient addition into a feed mixer influences mixing characteristics when modified distillers grains (mDG) was used as a feed ingredient. Five mixes were manufactured using a 3-bar rotor mixer and one mix was manufactured using a staggered-rotor mixer. There were three diet types evaluated: 1) high-forage receiving diet; 2) high-grain finishing diet with ground grass hay (GH) as the roughage source; and 3) high-grain finishing diet with silage as the roughage source. Five samples were collected from each mix and were analyzed for particle size and nutrient composition to determine within load coefficient of variation (CV). Based on these data mDG should be added before GH. The within load CV for particle size, CP, ADF, and sulfur were lower for a diet containing silage and mixed in a staggered-rotor mixer compared with a diet containing GH mixed in a 3-bar rotor mixer

Evaluation of Feeding Wet Distillers Grains with Solubles, Dry Distillers Grans with Solubles and Blood Meal to Growing Steers

A two-year study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding different protein sources on the performance of feeder cattle. During year 1 (Y1), 128 steers (506 ± 40 lb) were weighed and randomly allocated to 16 pens in a completely randomized design. Each pen was assigned to one of four treatment diets: 1) 20% soybean meal and corn (SBM); 2) 20% dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS); 3) 20% wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS); or 4) 20% blood meal, oil and corn (BM). In Y1, steers were fed a diet that consisted of 74% alfalfa/grass hay, 4% molasses and 2% supplement for the first 28 d and a diet that consisted of 50% alfalfa/grass hay, cracked corn, 4% molasses and 2% supplement for the remaining 56 d. During year 2 (Y2), 160 steers (535 ± 40 lb) were weighed and randomly allotted to 16 pens. Each pen was assigned to one of the four treatment diets used in Y1. The steers received the 50% alfalfa/grass hay based grower diet throughout the entire 57-d trial. Body weight was recorded prior to feeding at the start of the trial and every 28 d for both years. In Y1, ADG, DMI and G:F did not differ due to diet for the first 28 d and over the entire trial period. During the first 28 d of Y2, ADG, DMI and G:F was not affected by treatment; however, cumulative G:F of steers fed BM and WDGS were greater (P \u3c 0.05) than steers fed SBM or DDGS. In conclusion, feeding BM and WDGS during the growing phase resulted in the most efficient gains when steers were started on a higher energy diet. In addition, distillers grains with solubles was an effective alternative to soybean meal in growing diets

Effects of Supplying Water with Varying Levels of Total Dissolved Solids and Sulfates to Steers During the Growing Period on Subsequent Finishing Performance

Previous results have shown that water with elevated total dissolved solids (TDS) and sulfates was detrimental to performance of growing steers. The objective of this study was to determine finishing performance of steers that had previously received different levels of water quality during the growing period. In yr 1, 78 steers (824 lb) were assigned to one of eight pens (2-4 pens/treatment) based on water supplied during the 84-d growing period. Water TDS and sulfates during growing were: 1) 1,020 and 400; 2) 4,840 and 3,090; and 3) 6,190 and 3,950 ppm of TDS and sulfates, respectively. In yr 2, 75 steers (840 lb) that were previously supplied water during a 104-d growing period averaging: 1) 1,230 and 440; 2) 2,930 and 1,730; 3) 4,720 and 2,920; and 4) 7,270 and 4,650 ppm of TDS and sulfates respectively, were received and fed in one pen. In both years, all steers were fed a common finishing diet and had access to rural water. In yr 1, steers receiving treatment 1 had higher (P \u3c 0.10) ADG and DMI compared to treatments 2 and 3 during the previous growing period. During the initial 28-d of finishing, treatments 2 and 3 had higher (P \u3c 0.10) ADG than treatment 1. Steer DMI was not different (P = 0.19) between treatments during the first 28-d. Over the entire 126-d finishing trial, ADG, DMI and carcass characteristics were not different due to treatment (P \u3e 0.10). In yr 2, there was a quadratic decline in ADG with increasing TDS (P \u3c 0.05) during the previous growing phase, resulting in treatment 4 have lower initial weight (P \u3c 0.05) compared to treatments 1, 2, and 3. During the first 28-d of finishing, ADG was higher (P \u3c 0.10) for treatments 2 and 3 compared to 1, with treatment 4 being intermediate. Over the 133-d finishing trial, ADG of treatments 2 and 3 was greater (P \u3c 0.10) than treatment 1, with treatment 4 being intermediate, resulting in treatment 4 having lower carcass weight (P \u3c 0.05) compared to treatments 1, 2 and 3. Other carcass traits were not significantly different due to treatment. Steers receiving water during the growing period with 5000 ppm TDS and 3000 ppm sulfates or less were able to compensate for lost growing performance during the finishing period

Evaluation of Feeding Varying Levels of Wet Distillers Grains with Solubles as Compared to Dry Distilelrs Grains with Solubles to Finishing Steers

A study was conducted to determine the effects of implants and transportation on the metabolic status of feedlot steers. Steers (n = 28) were sorted by body weight, allocated into light or heavy blocks, and randomly assigned to one of two treatments. Treatments included non-implanted controls (CON) and steers implanted with Synovex Plus 70 d prior to harvest (IMP). Jugular blood and muscle biopsy samples (longissimus dorsi (LD) and semimembranosis (SM)) were collected 70 d post-implant, prior to transit. Steers were transported to Schuyler, NE, where blood and biopsy sampling was repeated. After harvest, carcass data were collected and muscle samples were taken from the LD, SM, Psoas Major (PM), and Illiacus (IL) muscles. Implanting increased (P \u3c 0.05) estradiol levels and improved live animal performance. Carcass weight and rib eye area were increased (P \u3c 0.05) in implanted steers. No dark cutters were found in either treatment. Pre-transit insulin/glucagon ratio and muscle glycogen levels did not differ (P \u3e 0.10) between treatments. Non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were reduced (P \u3c 0.05) in implanted steers pre-transit. Transit increased (P \u3c 0.05) NEFA levels, but had no effect (P \u3e 0.10) on insulin/glucagon ratio or muscle glycogen levels. Implanting did not affect (P \u3e 0.10) insulin/glucagon ratio, NEFA, or LD glycogen levels post-transit. Implanted steers had lower (P \u3c 0.05) glycogen levels in the SM than did non-implanted steers post-transit. Weight block affected (P \u3c 0.05) insulin and insulin/glucagon ratio levels, with steers in the light block having greater levels of each. Muscle pH and objective color (L*, a*, b*) of the LD were not biologically different between treatments. Implanted steers had greater (P \u3c 0.05) glycolytic potential values in the LD, and tended (P \u3c 0.10) to have higher L* values in the PM. Implanting increased (P \u3c 0.05) shear force of the LD. These data indicate that although implants affect bovine metabolism, other factors are necessary to cause a sufficient reduction in muscle glycogen and to produce a dark cutting carcass

Effects of Feeding Varying Concentrations of Dry Distiller\u27s Grains with Solubles to Finishing Steers on Feedlot Performance, Nutrient Management and Odorant Emissions

A study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding varying concentrations of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) to finishing steers on feedlot performance, nutrient management, and odorant emissions. Prior to initiation of the trial, 192 steers (initial BW = 826 ± 18 lb) were blocked by receiving date, weighed, and randomly allotted to 16 dirt floor pens (48.2 ft x 113.8 ft; 5% slope). Pens were then randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments. The control diet (CON) contained 82% cracked corn, 10% alfalfa hay, 4% molasses, 3.2% supplement, and 0.8% urea. In the remaining three treatment diets, all of the urea and portions of the cracked corn were removed and replaced with DDGS at 15% (15% DDGS), 25% (25% DDGS), and 35% (35% DDGS) of the diet DM. The diets were formulated to be isocaloric and to provide similar levels of crude protein (CP) for CON and 15% DDGS (13.2 and 13.3% CP, respectively) and a stepwise increase in CP for 25% and 35% DDGS (15.4 and 17.6%, respectively). Analysis of weekly feed samples collected throughout the trial determined that the CP concentrations were 11.4, 12.2, 14.3, and 16.5% for CON, 15% DDGS, 25% DDGS, and 35% DDGS, respectively. Cumulative dry matter intake (DMI) was greater (P \u3c 0.05) and ADG tended (P \u3c 0.10) to be greater for cattle consuming the 25% DDGS treatment compared to CON with 15% DDGS and 35% DDGS being intermediate (DMI = 23.7, 24.1, 24.8 and 24.1 lb/d and ADG = 4.25, 4.39, 4.55, and 4.45 lb for CON, 15%, 25%, and 35% DDGS, respectively). Dry matter intake responded quadratically (P \u3c 0.05) as the level of DDGS in the diet increased. Steers fed DDGS also tended to consume more dry matter than steers fed the control diet (P \u3c 0.07). There were no differences in final weight between treatments. Dressing percent and backfat increased (P \u3c 0.05) and hot carcass weight and yield grade tended (P \u3c 0.10) to increase in a linear fashion as level of DDGS in the diets increased. No differences were detected between treatments for marbling, kidney, pelvic, and heart fat, or ribeye area. Air samples were collected via wind tunnel at 3 locations per pen over a 3-d period prior to animal introduction and on d 78 to 80. Hydrogen sulfide levels were greatest (P \u3c 0.05) in pens containing cattle fed the 35% DDGS treatment compared to pens with cattle consuming the remaining treatments. No differences in odor characteristics were detected between treatments. Pen floor core samples (7 per pen) were taken prior to animal introduction and upon completion of the trial. No differences were found for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium, organic matter, pH or salt concentrations. Manure samples collected from pens scrapings were weighed and analyzed for dry matter, ammonia-N, Kjedahl-N, and Olsen-P. Ammonia-N and Olsen-P increased in a linear fashion (P \u3c 0.05) as the levels of DDGS in the diets increased. Dried distiller’s grains with solubles can be included in feedlot finishing diets at up to 35% of DMI without negatively affecting performance. However, animal performance is maximal when DDGS is included at 25% of DMI. Changes in carcass characteristics with increasing DDGS levels may affect days on feed needed to reach optimum terminal endpoint. Hydrogen sulfide emissions from pen floors may increase as the level of DDGS in the diet increases. However, when the feedlot is the sole source of H2S, the impact of increased H2S on odor or human health is negligible. General odor detection is not affected by feeding DDGS