Distillers’ Grains for Cows: Boon or Bust?

The United States’, and especially Iowa’s, ethanol industry has increased dramatically resulting in millions of tons of the distillers grains co-products produced annually. For every one bushel of corn processed there is a yield of about 2.8 gallons of ethanol and about 17 to 18 pounds of distillers’ grains (DGs) on a dry basis. Although one cannot be certain of future markets, it appears that large quantities of DGs will be available to the livestock industry for many years. Will the DGs remain the same? No, as we speak many ethanol plants are changing their manufacturing techniques, extracting corn oil and other by-products, which change the nutrient content and density of the DGs

Feed Particle Separation Due to Feed Delivery and Time in Feed Bunk and Effects on Cattle Performance

By utilizing a Penn State feed particle separation box, consistency of feed wagon deliveries can be assessed and performance differences between pens explained in some situations. This study revealed a feed wagon that tended to unload a slightly higher level of the bulkier feed ingredients toward the end of the unloading process and thus those animals receiving the first portions tended to have a higher caloric intake per unit of ration and subsequent greater rate of weight gain because of this bias. We therefore consider it imperative to evaluate a feed wagon’s delivery characteristics prior to use in order to maintain an acceptable level of quality control in ration delivery

Relationship between Feed Efficiency Measures during the Heifer Development Stage and Measures Taken During First Lactation in Purebred Angus—Progress Report

Fifteen Angus first-calf heifers were evaluated for feed intake utilizing the Feed Intake Monitoring System developed at ISU. Average dry matter intake for the 142- day period was 4718 pounds with over a 3100 pound range in female feed intake. On a daily basis, the low to high spread in daily dry matter intake was 24.7 to 46.6 pounds

Relationship between Feed Efficiency Measures during the Heifer Development Stage and Measures Taken During First Lactation in Purebred Angus—Second Year Progress Report

Angus first-calf heifers were evaluated for feed intake utilizing the Feed Intake Monitoring System developed at ISU. Average dry matter intake for the feeding period was 3904 pounds with a 3100 pound difference in dry matter intakes from the lowest to the highest intake female in year one while in year two there was over a 1425 lb difference in dry matter intake. This quantified to low to high spread in daily dry matter intake was 17.5 to 46.6 pounds. Feed intake during first year lactations between negative and positive RFI groups appears small after two years of observation

Dry Distillers Grain as a Creep Feed for Calves

Dried distillers grains is a readily available commodity in Iowa that can be successfully used as a single ingredient creep feed for young suckling calves when considering both short term and long term results

A Seven Year Summary of Feeding Cull Market Cows

Nine groups totaling 457 culled market cows were fed high concentrate rations at two locations in SW Iowa to demonstrate the possibilities of finishing for the “White Fat Cow” market. Average profit per head was $16.54 with a range$174.36 to -$91.45. Adjusted final weights ranged from 1484 to 1646 pounds, while average daily gains ranged from 2.88 to 4.55 pounds daily during a 70 to 91 day feeding program. Dry matter feed conversions on a shrunk basis ranged from 8.70 to 12.78 pounds per pound of gain with an average of 10.91. From 78.4 to 98.8 percent of the cows within the fed groups qualified in the “Premium White Fat” grades with an average of 85.5$98.03 with a range of $70.81 to$156.85. Delivery weight had a significant impact on average daily gain, feed cost of gain and total cost of gain; however body condition score had no significant impact on performance traits or cost of gain