Dried distillers grains (DDGS) were fed to weanling steer calves grazing nonirrigated corn residue to determine daily gain response and residue intake response to increasing levels of DDGS (from 1.5 to 6.5 lb/day in 1 lb increments). The DDGS was fed individually using Calan electronic gates. Daily gain increased from 0.9 (1.5 lb DDGS) to 1.8 (6.5 lb DDGS) lb/day . Forage intake decreased from 11.3 (1.5 lb DDGS) to 8.3 (6.5 lb DDGS) lb/day . Results provide information for selecting a DDGS supplementation level to achieve a target gain

Erickson, Galen E.

Greenquist, Matthew A.

Gustad, Kristin H.

Klopfenstein, Terry J.

MacDonald, James C.

Vander Pol, Kyle J.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 1-1-2006 Dried Distillers Grains Supplementation of Calves Grazing Corn Residue Kristin H. Gustad University of Nebraska-Lincoln Terry J. Klopfenstein University of Nebraska-Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.edu Galen E. Erickson University of Nebraska-Lincoln, gerickson4@unl.edu Kyle J. Vander Pol University of Nebraska-Lincoln James C. MacDonald University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jmacdonald2@unl.edu See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr  Part of the Animal Sciences Commons Gustad, Kristin H.; Klopfenstein, Terry J.; Erickson, Galen E.; Vander Pol, Kyle J.; MacDonald, James C.; and Greenquist, Matthew A., "Dried Distillers Grains Supplementation of Calves Grazing Corn Residue" (2006). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 114. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/114 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 Kristin H. Gustad, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Kyle J. Vander Pol, James C. MacDonald, and Matthew A. Greenquist This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/114 Page 36 — 2006 Nebraska Beef Report  © 2005, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved.Dried Distillers Grains Supplementationof Calves Grazing Corn ResidueProcedureOne hundred and twenty steers (512  37 lb) were stratified by weight and assigned randomly to incremen-tal levels of DDGS treatments. Steers were limit fed a 47.5% alfalfa, 47.5% WCGF 5% supplement diet for five days at the beginning and end of the trial and weighed for three consecu-tive days to minimize variation due to gut fill. Treatments included 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5 lb DDGS/head daily adjusted to a percentage of body weight (.29, .49, .69, .88, 1.08, and 1.27 % respectively.) The DDGS contained 12.4% fat and 30.1% CP. Calves were weighed on consecutive days biweekly to adjust the amount of DDGS offered. Minerals and vitamins were added to the DDGS supplements to meet NRC requirements. All steers were individually fed supplement using Calan electronic gates. Thirty calves were selected as a control group and fed a diet of 70.9% brome hay, and 29.1% sor-ghum silage with DDGS treatments assigned randomly within the group. Diet intake was directly measured for individual steers in the control group. Ninety calves grazed 90 acres of corn residue for 95 days. Grazing calves were gathered every morning at 6:30 and allowed three hours to consume supplement, then returned to the field for grazing.Corn residue samples were collec-ted biweekly using two ruminally canulated heifers and IVDMD was determined.ResultsAverage daily gain increased  (P < .001) with increasing levels of DDGS, with grazing calves ranging from .9 to 1.8 lbs/day (Figure 1). Some calves fed the two highest levels of DDGS (5.5 and 6.5 lb/day ) did not consume all of the DDGS offered. Actual DDGS intakes are used in Figure 1 to determine ADG response to level of DDGS. The quadratic effect of DDGS levels on ADG suggests that gains didn’t increase much above 1.1% of body weight of DDGS (Figure 2). Because there were some refusals of DDGS at the highest level of feeding (6.5 lb/day), we suggest a practical limit of 1.1% BW of DDGS supple-mentation (5.5 lb/day). Obviously, the amount (lb/day ) would be greater for larger calves.Kristin H. GustadTerry J. KlopfensteinGalen E. EricksonKyle J. Vander PolJim C. MacDonaldMatt A. Greenquist1SummaryDried distillers grains (DDGS) were fed to weanling steer calves grazing nonirrigated corn residue to determine daily gain response and residue intake response to increasing levels of DDGS (from 1.5 to 6.5 lb/day in 1 lb incre-ments). The DDGS was fed individually using Calan electronic gates. Daily gain increased from 0.9 (1.5 lb DDGS) to 1.8 (6.5 lb DDGS) lb/day . Forage intake decreased from 11.3 (1.5 lb DDGS) to 8.3 (6.5 lb DDGS) lb/day . Results pro-vide information for selecting a DDGS supplementation level to achieve a tar-get gain.Introduction Due to their high energy (108% TDN) and high protein content (30.1%) dried distillers grains (DDGS) fit well as a protein and (or) energy supplement in many grazing situa-tions. Corn residues are a relatively inexpensive feed resource, but are low in protein and energy, especially for growing calves, backgrounded for entry into the feedlot or for summer pasture, or for replacement heifers. Beef producers often target a specific ADG so it is important to know the amount of DDGS to supplement to calves grazing corn residues in order to achieve a desired level of daily gain. The objectives of our experiment were to determine the effects on ADG of incremental DDGS supplementation to calves grazing corn residue, and predict the effect of supplementation on forage intake.ADGy = -0.03x2 + 0.43x + 0.26R2 = 0.99 P < 0.01 SE = 0.08Figure 1. Grazing cattle average daily gain and predicted forage dry matter intake response due to increased levels of DDGS.21.81.61.41.210.80.60.40.20lb 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7DDGS (lb)© 2005, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2006 Nebraska Beef Report  — Page 37 residue which varied from 56.4% early in the grazing period to 46.9% at the end of the period with an average of 55.1%. Animal selectivity is the logi-cal explanation to an overall decrease in quality with time. The low point fell at 44.0% during a period of snow cover. Intake of the control, hay-fed calves decreased by about 27% as DDGS level increased from 1.5 to 6.5 lb/day. We therefore assume a similar decrease in intake of the corn residue. This could provide a feasible option to extend the stocking rates of corn stalks, while still improving ADG. Theoretically, one could increase stocking rate by 27%.Figure 1 provides information necessary for a producer to determine the DDGS supplementation level necessary to achieve a targeted gain. For example, if 1.5 ADG is desired, then 4 lb of DDGS would be fed. The calves would consume 73% as much residue. We estimate cornstalk graz-ing cost at $.12 per calf daily. With reduced consumption of corn residue (73%) the cost would be $.09 per day. We estimate delivered price of DDGS to be about $110 per ton. the 4 lb of DDGS (4.3 lb air dry) would cost $.24 per day for a total feed cost of $.33 per day or $.213 per lb gain at 1.5 lb ADG.1Kristin H. Gustad, graduate student; Terry J. Klopfenstein, professor; Galen E. Erickson, assistant professor; Kyle J. Vander Pol, Jim C. MacDonald and Matt A. Greenquist, technicians, Animal Science, Lincoln.Figure 2. Control cattle group average daily gain and forage dry matter intake response due to increased levels of DDGS.121086420lb 0 2 4 6 8 10DDGS (lb)FDMIy = -0.60x + 12.16R2 = 0.93 P < 0.01 SE = 0.41ADGy = 0.09x + 1.83R2 = 0.77 P < 0.01 SE = 0.14Figure 3. In vitro dry matter digestibility of corn residue over time.706050403020100IVDMD % 6-Dec 20-Dec 3-Jan 17-Jan 31-Jan 23-FebDate of Diet SampleCalves fed hay had ADG ranging from 1.9 to 2.4 lb (Figure 2). Differ-ences in gain were due to differing TDN of corn residue and hay diet (55% and 59% respectively). Forage intake in the hay-fed calves (Figure 2) decreased linearly (P<.001) with DDGS supplementation. Values ranged from 11.3 lb at 1.5 lb DDGS supplementation to 8.3 at the high supplementation level. Figure 3 depicts the digestibility of the corn 

Dried Distillers Grains Supplementation of Calves Grazing Corn Residue

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 
1-1-2006 
Dried Distillers Grains Supplementation of Calves Grazing Corn 
Residue 
Kristin H. Gustad 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
Terry J. Klopfenstein 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.edu 
Galen E. Erickson 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, gerickson4@unl.edu 
Kyle J. Vander Pol 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
James C. MacDonald 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jmacdonald2@unl.edu 
See next page for additional authors 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr 
 Part of the Animal Sciences Commons 
Gustad, Kristin H.; Klopfenstein, Terry J.; Erickson, Galen E.; Vander Pol, Kyle J.; MacDonald, James C.; and 
Greenquist, Matthew A., "Dried Distillers Grains Supplementation of Calves Grazing Corn Residue" (2006). 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 114. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/114 
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 
Kristin H. Gustad, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Kyle J. Vander Pol, James C. MacDonald, and 
Matthew A. Greenquist 
This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/
animalscinbcr/114 
Page 36 — 2006 Nebraska Beef Report  © 2005, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved.
Dried Distillers Grains Supplementation
of Calves Grazing Corn Residue
Procedure
One hundred and twenty steers 
(512  37 lb) were stratified by weight 
and assigned randomly to incremen-
tal levels of DDGS treatments. Steers 
were limit fed a 47.5% alfalfa, 47.5% 
WCGF 5% supplement diet for five 
days at the beginning and end of the 
trial and weighed for three consecu-
tive days to minimize variation due 
to gut fill. Treatments included 1.5, 
2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5 lb DDGS/
head daily adjusted to a percentage 
of body weight (.29, .49, .69, .88, 1.08, 
and 1.27 % respectively.) The DDGS 
contained 12.4% fat and 30.1% CP. 
Calves were weighed on consecutive 
days biweekly to adjust the amount of 
DDGS offered. Minerals and vitamins 
were added to the DDGS supplements 
to meet NRC requirements. 
All steers were individually fed 
supplement using Calan electronic 
gates. Thirty calves were selected 
as a control group and fed a diet of 
70.9% brome hay, and 29.1% sor-
ghum silage with DDGS treatments 
assigned randomly within the group. 
Diet intake was directly measured for 
individual steers in the control group. 
Ninety calves grazed 90 acres of corn 
residue for 95 days. Grazing calves 
were gathered every morning at 6:30 
and allowed three hours to consume 
supplement, then returned to the field 
for grazing.
Corn residue samples were collec-
ted biweekly using two ruminally 
canulated heifers and IVDMD was 
determined.
Results
Average daily gain increased  
(P < .001) with increasing levels of 
DDGS, with grazing calves ranging 
from .9 to 1.8 lbs/day (Figure 1). Some 
calves fed the two highest levels of 
DDGS (5.5 and 6.5 lb/day ) did not 
consume all of the DDGS offered. 
Actual DDGS intakes are used in 
Figure 1 to determine ADG response 
to level of DDGS. The quadratic effect 
of DDGS levels on ADG suggests that 
gains didn’t increase much above 1.1% 
of body weight of DDGS (Figure 2). 
Because there were some refusals of 
DDGS at the highest level of feeding 
(6.5 lb/day), we suggest a practical 
limit of 1.1% BW of DDGS supple-
mentation (5.5 lb/day). Obviously, the 
amount (lb/day ) would be greater for 
larger calves.
Kristin H. Gustad
Terry J. Klopfenstein
Galen E. Erickson
Kyle J. Vander Pol
Jim C. MacDonald
Matt A. Greenquist1
Summary
Dried distillers grains (DDGS) were 
fed to weanling steer calves grazing 
nonirrigated corn residue to determine 
daily gain response and residue intake 
response to increasing levels of DDGS 
(from 1.5 to 6.5 lb/day in 1 lb incre-
ments). The DDGS was fed individually 
using Calan electronic gates. Daily gain 
increased from 0.9 (1.5 lb DDGS) to 1.8 
(6.5 lb DDGS) lb/day . Forage intake 
decreased from 11.3 (1.5 lb DDGS) to 
8.3 (6.5 lb DDGS) lb/day . Results pro-
vide information for selecting a DDGS 
supplementation level to achieve a tar-
get gain.
Introduction
 Due to their high energy (108% 
TDN) and high protein content 
(30.1%) dried distillers grains (DDGS) 
fit well as a protein and (or) energy 
supplement in many grazing situa-
tions. Corn residues are a relatively 
inexpensive feed resource, but are 
low in protein and energy, especially 
for growing calves, backgrounded for 
entry into the feedlot or for summer 
pasture, or for replacement heifers. 
Beef producers often target a specific 
ADG so it is important to know the 
amount of DDGS to supplement to 
calves grazing corn residues in order 
to achieve a desired level of daily gain. 
The objectives of our experiment were 
to determine the effects on ADG of 
incremental DDGS supplementation 
to calves grazing corn residue, and 
predict the effect of supplementation 
on forage intake.
ADG
y = -0.03x2 + 0.43x + 0.26
R2 = 0.99 P < 0.01 SE = 0.08
Figure 1. Grazing cattle average daily gain and predicted forage dry matter intake response due to 
increased levels of DDGS.
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
lb
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
DDGS (lb)
© 2005, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2006 Nebraska Beef Report  — Page 37 
residue which varied from 56.4% early 
in the grazing period to 46.9% at the 
end of the period with an average of 
55.1%. Animal selectivity is the logi-
cal explanation to an overall decrease 
in quality with time. The low point 
fell at 44.0% during a period of snow 
cover. Intake of the control, hay-fed 
calves decreased by about 27% as 
DDGS level increased from 1.5 to 6.5 
lb/day. We therefore assume a similar 
decrease in intake of the corn residue. 
This could provide a feasible option 
to extend the stocking rates of corn 
stalks, while still improving ADG. 
Theoretically, one could increase 
stocking rate by 27%.
Figure 1 provides information 
necessary for a producer to determine 
the DDGS supplementation level 
necessary to achieve a targeted gain. 
For example, if 1.5 ADG is desired, 
then 4 lb of DDGS would be fed. The 
calves would consume 73% as much 
residue. We estimate cornstalk graz-
ing cost at $.12 per calf daily. With 
reduced consumption of corn residue 
(73%) the cost would be $.09 per day. 
We estimate delivered price of DDGS 
to be about $110 per ton. the 4 lb of 
DDGS (4.3 lb air dry) would cost $.24 
per day for a total feed cost of $.33 per 
day or $.213 per lb gain at 1.5 lb ADG.
1Kristin H. Gustad, graduate student; Terry 
J. Klopfenstein, professor; Galen E. Erickson, 
assistant professor; Kyle J. Vander Pol, Jim C. 
MacDonald and Matt A. Greenquist, technicians, 
Animal Science, Lincoln.
Figure 2. Control cattle group average daily gain and forage dry matter intake response due to 
increased levels of DDGS.
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
lb
 0 2 4 6 8 10
DDGS (lb)
FDMI
y = -0.60x + 12.16
R2 = 0.93 P < 0.01 SE = 0.41
ADG
y = 0.09x + 1.83
R2 = 0.77 P < 0.01 SE = 0.14
Figure 3. In vitro dry matter digestibility of corn residue over time.
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
IV
D
M
D
 %
 6-Dec 20-Dec 3-Jan 17-Jan 31-Jan 23-Feb
Date of Diet Sample
Calves fed hay had ADG ranging 
from 1.9 to 2.4 lb (Figure 2). Differ-
ences in gain were due to differing 
TDN of corn residue and hay diet 
(55% and 59% respectively). Forage 
intake in the hay-fed calves (Figure 
2) decreased linearly (P<.001) with 
DDGS supplementation. Values 
ranged from 11.3 lb at 1.5 lb DDGS 
supplementation to 8.3 at the high 
supplementation level. Figure 3 
depicts the digestibility of the corn 


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