A metabolism trial was conducted to evaluate protein from modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) in finishing diets on nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation characteristics. Isolated protein from corn was not different than MDGS for dry matter, organic matter, or neutral detergent fiber digestibility. However, steers fed MDGS tended to have lower total tract organic matter digestibility compared to corn and protein from corn. Protein had greater total tract organic matter and starch digestibility than MDGS. Protein from corn did not contribute towards the lower digestibility of MDGS. Protein is more easily digestible than the other components in distillers grains plus solubles

Carlson, Zachary E.

Gramkow, Jana L.

Wilson, Hannah C., Wilson

Jolly-Breithaupt, Melissa L.

Erickson, Galen E.

MacDonald, Jim C.

Luebbe, Matt K.

English

Date :  26-27/05/2014 Lieu :  Paris Organisateurs : Andrée Bergeron, Charlotte Bigg, Jochen Hennig et Renaud Huynh Programme : Matières à penser. Les mises en scènes des sciences et leurs enjeux, 19ème-21ème siècles Participants : Andrée Bergeron (Centre Alexandre Koyré, Paris), Charlotte Bigg (Centre Alexandre Koyré, Paris), Friedrich von Bose (Humboldt Universität, Berlin), Lino Camprubi (Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona), Loic Charles (Université de Paris 8 Vincennes Saint-Denis), Volny F..

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Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 
2018 
Evaluation of Protein from Distillers Grains in Finishing Diets on 
Nutrient Digestibility 
Zachary E. Carlson 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, zac.carlson@unl.edu 
Jana L. Gramkow 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jharding3@unl.edu 
Hannah C. Wilson Wilson 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, hhamilton6@unl.edu 
Melissa L. Jolly-Breithaupt 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, melissa_jolly_brethaupt@unl.edu 
Galen E. Erickson 
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, gerickson4@unl.edu 
See next page for additional authors 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr 
 Part of the Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, and the 
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Carlson, Zachary E.; Gramkow, Jana L.; Wilson, Hannah C. Wilson; Jolly-Breithaupt, Melissa L.; Erickson, 
Galen E.; MacDonald, Jim C.; and Luebbe, Matt K., "Evaluation of Protein from Distillers Grains in Finishing 
Diets on Nutrient Digestibility" (2018). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 990. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/990 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle 
Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Authors 
Zachary E. Carlson, Jana L. Gramkow, Hannah C. Wilson Wilson, Melissa L. Jolly-Breithaupt, Galen E. 
Erickson, Jim C. MacDonald, and Matt K. Luebbe 
This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/
animalscinbcr/990 
98 · 2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
©  The Board Regents of the University of  
Nebraska. All rights reserved.
gluten meal (CGM), 15.00% corn silage, and 
5.00% supplement. The fourth treatment 
(CGM- CDS) replaced 10% of DRC from 
the HIGH- CGM diet with condensed 
distillers solubles. In the experimental diets, 
the protein portion of modified distillers 
grains plus solubles (MDGS) was mim-
icked by CGM to provide similar RUP as 
40% MDGS. Corn gluten meal is from wet 
milling of corn grain and is high in protein 
(65– 75 % CP; 60% of CP is RUP). In 
addition to CGM, 10% condensed distillers 
solubles (CDS) was added to HIGH- CGM 
(CGM- CDS) to compare to 40DGS diet. 
Diets were formulated to provide 375 mg/
steer of Rumensin® (Elanco Animal Health) 
and 90 mg/steer of Tylan® (Elanco Animal 
Health) daily.
Steers were individually housed in pens 
equipped with slatted floors and given ad 
litbitum access to feed and water. Samples 
tive of these experiments were to evaluate 
protein from DGS on site and extent of 
nutrient digestibility; and ruminal pH.
Procedure
Experiment 1
Six duodenally fistulated crossbred 
steers (837 lb initial BW; SE = 110) were 
utilized in an unbalanced 6 × 6 row- column 
design, with six periods and four treatments 
(Table 1). The control (CON) treatment 
contained 76.50% dry- rolled corn (DRC), 
15.00% corn silage, 3.50% soybean meal, 
3.55% supplement, and 1.41% urea. Second 
treatment (40DGS) contained 40.00% 
DRC, 40.00% modified distillers grains 
plus solubles, 15.00% corn silage, and 5.00% 
supplement. The third treatment (HIGH- 
CGM) contained 62.50% DRC, 17.50% corn 
Zachary E. Carlson
Jana L. Gramkow
Hannah C. Wilson
Melissa L. Jolly- Breithaupt
Galen E. Erickson
Jim C. MacDonald
Matt K. Luebbe
Summary with Implications
A metabolism trial was conducted to 
evaluate protein from modified distillers 
grains plus solubles (MDGS) in finishing 
diets on nutrient digestibility and ruminal 
fermentation characteristics. Isolated protein 
from corn was not different than MDGS 
for dry matter, organic matter, or neutral 
detergent fiber digestibility. However, steers 
fed MDGS tended to have lower total tract 
organic matter digestibility compared to corn 
and protein from corn. Protein had greater 
total tract organic matter and starch digest-
ibility than MDGS. Protein from corn did 
not contribute towards the lower digestibility 
of MDGS. Protein is more easily digestible 
than the other components in distillers grains 
plus solubles.
Introduction
As advances in technology continue 
in the ethanol industry, isolating and 
separating components of distillers grains 
plus solubles (DGS) may become prevalent, 
which changes potential use of DGS in 
feedlot diets. Establishing the contributions 
of individual components (i.e. protein, fiber, 
fat) of distillers grains will help beef cattle 
producers determine the value of distillers 
grains as it changes. The protein component 
of DGS had a similar feeding value as DGS 
when included at 40% (2016 Nebraska Beef 
Cattle Report, pp. 132– 134). No data has 
been reported on the impact of protein 
from distiller grains on site and extent of 
total tract nutrient digestibility. The objec-
Evaluation of Protein from Distillers Grains  
in Finishing Diets on Nutrient Digestibility
Table 1. Composition of dietary treatments containing protein components of distiller grains fed to 
steers.
Item1
Treatment
CON2 40DGS HIGH- CGM CGM- CDS
Ingredient, % DM3
DRC 76.5 40.0 62.5 52.5
MDGS - 40.0 - - 
Corn Silage 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0
CGM - - 17.5 17.5
CDS - - - 10.0
SBM 3.5 - - - 
Supplement4 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
Nutrient Composition, %
CP 12.5 18.5 19.6 22.1
NDF 14.8 26.1 13.6 13.2
Fat 3.6 6.5 3.5 3.8
Starch 55.6 32.6 48.8 42.6
1All values presented on a DM basis.
2Supplemented with urea at 1.405% of diet to meet the RDP requirement.
3DRC = dry- rolled corn; MDGS = Modified distillers grains plus solubles; CGM = corn gluten meal; CDS = condensed distillers 
solubles; SBM = soybean meal.
4Beef trace mineral contained 10%Mg, 6% Zn as ZnO, 4.5% Fe as FeSO4, 2% Mn as MnO, 0.5% Cu as CuSO4, 0.3% I as 
Ca(IO3)2(H2O), and 0.05% Co as CoCO3. Vitamin A, D, and E premix contained 1,500 IU vitamin A, 3,000 IU vitamin D, and 
3.7 IU vitamin E per g. Rumensin formulated to provide 375 mg∙steer∙d- 1 monensin (Rumensin; Elanco Animal Health, Green-
field, IN). Tylan forumated to provide 90 mg∙steer∙d- 1 tylosin (Tylan; Elanco Animal Health).
2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report · 99 
of individual ingredients were taken prior 
to mixing diets, ground through a 1- mm 
screen, and analyzed for OM, CP, NDF, fat, 
and starch to calculate nutrient composi-
tion of dietary treatments (Table 1).
Each period consisted of 21 days with 16 
days for diet adaptation followed by 5 days 
of collections. Fecal output was estimated 
by top dressing titanium dioxide (TiO2; 
10 g/day) at time of feeding for the entire 
period. Duodenal and fecal samples were 
collected from day 17 to 21 at 0800, 1200, 
1600 hours and analyzed for DM, OM, 
NDF, and starch. Nutrient digestibility was 
determined by analyzing duodenal and 
fecal samples for titanium dioxide.
Nutrient digestibility and intake data 
were analyzed using the MIXED proce-
dures of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). 
Steer within period was the experimental 
unit. Steer was included in the random 
statement. The model included treatment 
and period as independent fixed effects.
Experiment 2
Six ruminally fistulated crossbred steers 
(771 lb initial BW; SD = 95) were utilized in 
an unbalanced 6 × 6 row- column design, 
with six periods and four treatments (Table 
1). Each period consisted of 14 days with 
11 days for adaptation followed by collec-
tions from day 12 to 14. Experiment 2 was 
performed in order to measure ruminal pH 
and correct for microbial cell flow into the 
duodenum for Exp 1.
Wireless pH loggers were placed in the 
rumen on day 7, prior to feeding, and re-
corded pH measurements every minute un-
til day 14 of each collection period. Samples 
of whole rumen contents were taken from 
the ventral portion of the rumen on day 
14, blended into a homogenous mixture, 
strained through 4 layers of cheesecloth, 
and centrifuged to isolate bacterial cells.
Data for average ruminal pH were 
analyzed as a repeated measure using the 
MIXED procedure of SAS. Time within 
day was the repeated measure. The model 
included day, time, treatment, and all their 
interactions, in addition to period as an 
independent fixed effect.
Table 3. Effects of excess rumen ungradable protein from distillers grains in finishing steers diets on 
ruminal and post- ruminal digestibility (Experiment 1 and Experiment 2).
Item
Treatment
SEM P- valueCON1 40DGS2 HIGH- CGM3 CGM- CDS4
Steers, n 4 4 6 5 - - 
DMI, lb/d 15.0c 17.3a 15.6bc 16.5ab 1.2 0.08
OM
Ruminal digestibility, %5,6 54.7 59.7 58.4 58.1 4.9 0.90
Postruminal  
digestibility, % entering
61.3 47.7 64.0 69.4 6.2 0.18
NDF
Ruminal digestibility, % 44.6 65.9 51.1 49.2 7.1 0.35
Starch
Ruminal digestibility, %,6 71.2 69.3 76.0 76.2 6.2 0.35
Postruminal  
digestibility, % entering
60.0 46.6 69.9 68.7 17.9 0.59
a,b,cMeans within a row with different superscripts differ (P < 0.10).
1Control (CON) treatment containing 76.5% dry- rolled corn (DRC), 15.0% corn silage, 3.5% soybean meal, and 5.0% supple-
ment.
2Modified distillers treatment containing 40.0% DRC, 40.0% modified distillers grains plus solubles, 15.0% corn silage, and 5.0% 
supplement.
3Treatment formulated to mimic protein portion of 40DGS with corn gluten meal (CGM) at 17.5%, 62.5% DRC, 15.0% corn 
silage, and 5.0% supplement.
4Treatment formulated to mimic protein portion of 40DGS with the addition of corn gluten meal at 17.5% and condensed distill-
ers solubles at 10.0%, 52.5% DRC, 15.0% corn silage, and 5.0% supplement.
5Calculation of apparent vs. true used data from samples collected from ruminally cannulated steers to account for bacterial cells 
flowing into the duodenum.
6Caculated using assumed purine:N ratio of 0.3 from Cooper et al. (2002).
Table 2. Effects of excess rumen ungradable protein from distillers grains in finishing steers diets on 
intake and total tract digestibility (Experiment 1).
Item
Treatments
SEM P- valueCON1 40DGS2 HIGH- CGM3 CGM- CDS4
Steers, n 7 8 8 7 - - 
DM
Intake, lb/d 15.0c 17.3a 15.6bc 16.5ab 1.2 0.08
Digestibility, % 79.6 74.4 82.3 83.1 3.1 0.16
OM
Intake, lb/d 14.5 16.4 15.1 15.7 1.1 0.17
Digestibility, % 81.0 76.0 83.4 84.5 2.8 0.14
NDF
Intake, lb/d 2.2b 4.5a 2.1b 2.2b 0.2 <0.01
Digestibility, % 47.9 59.3 48.0 55.9 7.3 0.53
Starch
Intake, lb/d 8.4a 5.7c 7.8a 7.1b 0.5 <0.01
Digestibility, % 92.1a 86.6b 94.8a 92.1a 1.3 <0.01
a,b,cMeans within a row with different superscripts differ (P ≤ 0.10).
1Control (CON) treatment containing 76.5% dry- rolled corn (DRC), 15.0% corn silage, 3.5% soybean meal, and 5.0% supple-
ment.
2Modified distillers treatment containing 40.0% DRC, 40.0% modified distillers grains plus solubles, 15.0% corn silage, and 5.0% 
supplement.
3Treatment formulated to mimic protein portion of 40DGS with corn gluten meal (CGM) at 17.5%, 62.5% DRC, 15.0% corn 
silage, and 5.0% supplement.
4Treatment formulated to mimic protein portion of 40DGS with the addition of corn gluten meal at 17.5% and condensed distill-
ers solubles at 10.0%, 52.5% DRC, 15.0% corn silage, and 5.0% supplement.
100 · 2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
Results
Experiment 1
Nutrient intake and digestibility data are 
presented in Table 2. Dry matter intake was 
greater (P = 0.08) for 40DGS compared to 
HIGH- CGM and CON, but not different 
than CGM- CDS. Organic matter intake was 
not different (P = 0.17) among treatments. 
However, cattle fed 40DGS had numerically 
greater OM intake compared to CON. Neu-
tral detergent fiber intake was greater (P < 
Figure 1. Ruminal pH of cattle fed 4 different dietary treatments was monitored over 6 periods. The 
control (CON) treatment contained 76.50% dry- rolled corn (DRC), 15.00% corn silage, 3.50% soybean 
meal, 3.55% supplement, and 1.405% urea. The 40DGS treatment contained 40.00% DRC, 40.00% 
modified distillers grains plus solubles, 15.00% corn silage, and 5.00% supplement. The HIGH- CGM 
treatment contained 62.50% DRC, 17.50% corn gluten meal (CGM), 15.00% corn silage, and 5.00% 
supplement. The CGM- CDS treatment replaced 10% of DRC from the HIGH- CGM diet with con-
densed distillers solubles. There was an hour × treatment interaction (P < 0.01). Treatment differences 
(P < 0.05) within time points are marked with a letter (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, and j) to signify statistical 
differences between treatments within that time point. Time points marked with an “a” indicate that 
the CON treatment had the greatest pH and HIGH- CGM and CGM- CDS had the lowest. The 40DGS 
treatment was intermediate. Time points marked with a “b” indicate that the CON treatment had the 
greatest pH and HIGH- CGM and CGM- CDS treatments were the lowest. The 40DGS treatment had a 
greater pH than the HIGH- CGM and CGM- CDS treatments. Time points marked with a “c” indicate 
that the CON treatment had the greatest pH and the remaining 3 treatments are the same. Time points 
marked with a “d” indicate that the CON had the greatest pH and the HIGH- CGM treatment had the 
lowest. The 40DGS treatment had a greater pH than the HIGH- CGM, and the CGM- CDS treat-
ment was intermediate between CON and 40DGS. Time points marked with an “e” indicate that the 
CON and CGM- CDS treatments had the greatest pH and the HIGH- CGM treatment had the lowest. 
The 40DGS treatment was intermediate. Time points marked with an “f ” indicate that 40DGS and 
CGM- CDS treatments had the greatest pH and the HIGH- CGM treatment had the lowest. The CON 
treatment was intermediate. Time points marked with a “g” indicate that the HIGH- CGM treatment 
had the greatest pH and the CGM- CDS treatment had the lowest. The CON and 40DGS treatments 
were intermediate. Time points marked with an “h” indicate that the 40DGS treatment had the greatest 
pH and the CGM- CDS treatment had the lowest. Time points marked with an “i” indicate that the 
CON treatment had the greatest pH and that the CGM- CDS treatment had the lowest. Time points 
marked with a “j” indicate that CON, 40DGS, and HIGH- CGM treatment had a greater pH than the 
CGM- CDS treatment.
0.01) for 40DGS than all other treatments. 
The 40DGS diet had approximately twice 
the NDF content of CON, HIGH- CGM, 
and CGM- CDS (26.1 vs. 14.8, 13.6, and 
13.2% NDF; respectively). Starch intake was 
greatest (P < 0.01) for CON and HIGH- 
CGM with CGM- CDS greater than 40DGS. 
Replacing 10% of DRC with CDS reduced 
the starch content in the diet by 6.2% and 
subsequently lowered starch intake by 9.9%.
There was no difference (P = 0.16) in to-
tal tract DM digestibility among treatments, 
but 40DGS was numerically lower than all 
other treatments. A similar relationship was 
observed for total tract OM digestibility, 
which tended to be impacted (P < 0.14) by 
treatment. Cattle consuming 40DGS tended 
to have lower total tract OM digestibility 
compared to cattle fed CON, CGM, and 
CGM- CDS. There was no difference in total 
tract NDF digestibility (P = 0.53) among 
treatments. Steers consuming 40DGS 
and CGM- CDS had numerically greater 
total tract NDF digestibility compared to 
CON and HIGH- CGM. Total tract starch 
digestibility was lower (P < 0.01) for 40DGS 
compared to other treatments, which were 
not different. Distillers grains plus solubles 
contains less starch as a result of starch fer-
mentation for ethanol production. The small 
amount of starch available in DGS may be 
difficult to access and have lower digestibility 
by the animal, as well as microbes, because 
the ethanol plant already exposed the starch 
to enzymes produced by yeast and other 
microbes during ethanol production.
Ruminal and post- ruminal OM, NDF, 
and starch digestibility were not different 
(P > 0.18) among treatments. Ruminal NDF 
digestibility was not different (P = 0.35) 
among treatments. However, cattle consum-
ing 40DGS had numerically greater rumi-
nal NDF digestibility compared to CON, 
HIGH- CGM, and CGM- CDS as a result of 
different sources of NDF. Post- ruminal OM 
digestibility did not differ (P = 0.18) among 
treatments. Cattle consuming 40DGS had 
numerically lower post- ruminal OM digest-
ibility compared to cattle consuming CON, 
HIGH- CGM, and CGM- CDS.
Experiment 2
Previous research has reported that 
cattle consuming finishing diets with DGS 
tend to have lower ruminal pH compared to 
corn- based finishing diets. Results from this 
experiment support those findings. From 
time of feeding until 3 hours post- feeding 
cattle consuming CON had the greatest 
ruminal pH compared to the byproduct- 
based diets. Cattle consuming CGM- CDS 
did not recover to a similar pH as CON, 
40DGS, and CGM 5 hours pre- feeding up 
to time of feeding.
In conclusion, cattle consuming dis-
tillers grains plus solubles had lower OM 
digestibility, which agrees with previous 
2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report · 101 
Melissa L. Jolly- Breithaupt, research 
technician
Galen E. Erickson, professor Animal 
Science
Jim C. MacDonald, associate professor 
Animal Science, Lincoln
Matt K. Luebbe, assistant professor Animal 
Science, Panhandle Research and Extension 
Center, Scottsbluff
research. The protein from corn did not 
contribute towards the lower digestibility of 
MDGS. Protein was more readily digestible 
than the other components in distillers 
grains plus solubles.
Zachary E. Carlson, graduate student
Jana L. Gramkow, research technician
Hannah C. Wilson, research technician


Evaluation of Protein from Distillers Grains in Finishing Diets on Nutrient Digestibility

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Evaluation of Protein from Distillers Grains in Finishing Diets on Nutrient Digestibility

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