A 124-day individually fed finishing study was conducted to evaluate corn grain replacement by distillers grain and 5% CaO treated crop residue. Dietary treatments were two ratios (2:1 or 3:1) of modified distillers grains and treated crop residues (DGCR), two types of treated crop residue (corn stover or wheat straw) at 3:1 ratio, and then with three dry rolled corn (DRC) levels (10%, 25%, 40%; DM basis). Steers fed diets containing as little as 25% corn and 3:1 ratios of distillers grains and CaO treated crop residues can achieve similar F:G compared with cattle fed diets containing 5% roughage and 56% corn

Burken, Dirk

Cecava, Michael

Erickson, Galen E.

Klopfenstein, Terry

Nuttelman, Brandon L, Nuttelman

Schneider, Cody J.

Shreck, Adam L.

English

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 
2013 
Varying Proportions and Amounts of Distillers Grains and 
Alkaline-Treated Forage as Substitutes for Corn Grain in Finishing 
Cattle Diets 
Adam L. Shreck 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
Cody J. Schneider 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, bnuttelman2@unl.edu 
Dirk Burken 
Universitiy of Nebraska--Lincoln, dirk_burken@hotmail.com 
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 
Shreck, Adam L.; Schneider, Cody J.; Nuttelman, Brandon L. Nuttelman; Burken, Dirk; Erickson, Galen E.; 
Klopfenstein, Terry; and Cecava, Michael, "Varying Proportions and Amounts of Distillers Grains and 
Alkaline-Treated Forage as Substitutes for Corn Grain in Finishing Cattle Diets" (2013). Nebraska Beef 
Cattle Reports. 725. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/725 
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 
Adam L. Shreck, Cody J. Schneider, Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman, Dirk Burken, Galen E. Erickson, Terry 
Klopfenstein, and Michael Cecava 
This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/
animalscinbcr/725 
Page 56 — 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved.
Varying Proportions and Amounts of Distillers Grains
and Alkaline-Treated Forage as Substitutes for Corn Grain 
in Finishing Cattle Diets
Adam L. Shreck
Cody J. Schneider
Brandon L. Nuttelman
Dirk B. Burken
Galen E. Erickson
Terry J. Klopfenstein
Michael J. Cecava1
Summary
A 124-day individually fed finishing 
study was conducted to evaluate corn 
grain replacement by distillers grain 
and 5% CaO treated crop residue. Di-
etary treatments were two ratios (2:1 
or 3:1) of modified distillers grains and 
treated crop residues (DGCR), two types 
of treated crop residue (corn stover or 
wheat straw) at 3:1 ratio, and then with 
three dry rolled corn (DRC) levels (10%, 
25%, 40%; DM basis). Steers fed diets 
containing as little as 25% corn and 
3:1 ratios of distillers grains and CaO 
treated crop residues can achieve similar 
F:G compared with cattle fed diets con-
taining 5% roughage and 56% corn.
Introduction
Previous studies have reported 
similar ADG and F:G when replac-
ing up to 15 percentage (Shreck et 
al., 2012 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, 
pp. 105-107; pp. 108-109) units of 
corn with inclusion of 20% CaO 
treated corn stover or wheat straw in 
diets containing 40% wet or modi-
fied distillers grains. The objective of 
this trial was to test the maximum 
amount of corn that could be replaced 
by distillers grains and treated for-
age, and whether the ratio of distillers 
grains to treated residue is an impor-
tant factor. 
Procedure
Sixty yearling steers (initial BW: 
885 ± 90.9 lb) were individually fed 
using Calan gates for 124 days. Steers 
were blocked (n = 2) by BW and 
assigned randomly to treatments. 
Steers were limit fed a 50% sweet bran 
50% alfalfa hay (DM basis) diet, at 
2% of BW for 5 days, and weighed 
on three consecutive days for ini-
tial BW determination. Steers were 
implanted with Revealor®-S on day 1. 
Ten dietary treatments (Table 1) were 
designed as two 2 x 3 factorials. In 
the first factorial, factors were ratio of 
distillers grain and corn stalks (2:1 or 
3:1; DG:Stalks) with three dry rolled 
corn (DRC) levels (10%, 25%, 40%; 
DM basis). In the second factorial, 
factors were two types of treated crop 
residue (corn stalks or wheat straw 
at 3:1 DGCR), with three DRC levels 
(10%, 25%, 40%; DM basis). Ratios of 
DGCR replaced DRC and consisted of 
modified distillers grains plus solubles 
(MDGS) and treated corn stover at 
2:1 or 3:1 of MDGS and treated wheat 
straw at 3:1. A control was included 
that contained 35% MDGS, 5% 
untreated corn stover, and 56% DRC. 
All diets contained 4% supplement 
and were formulated for adequate 
dietary Ca. Chemical treatment con-
sisted of water, CaO (Granular Stan-
dard Quicklime, Mississippi Lime Co, 
Kansas City, Mo.), and ground residue 
(3-inch screen) weighed and mixed in 
Roto-Mix feed trucks. The mixture 
was calculated to be 50% DM (treated 
wheat straw and corn stalks used dur-
ing experiment were: 52.7 and 54.7% 
DM, respectively) with calcium oxide 
added at 5% of the forage DM. Feed 
trucks dispensed treated residue into 
a silage bag and the treatment process 
was completed at least seven days pri-
or to feeding. The pH of treated wheat 
straw and corn stalks averaged 8.16 
and 7.29, respectively, throughout the 
feeding period. Calcium oxide treat-
ment solubilized (relative to untreat-
ed) 13.6 and 13.7% of the NDF for 
treated wheat straw and corn stover, 
respectively. Orts were assessed week-
ly and the amount of DM refused was 
subtracted from the DM offered to 
calculate DMI. Steers were weighed on 
the day prior to slaughter and live BW 
was used to calculate dressing per-
cent [HCW/(live BW*0.96)]. Carcass 
adjusted final BW was calculated from 
HCW and a 62% dressed yield was 
assumed. Carcass adjusted final BW 
was used to calculate ADG. Data were 
Table 1.  Diet composition offered to individually fed steers.
Ingredient, % of DM
 
Control
2:1 Stalks 3:1 Stalks 3:1 Wheat Straw
Low Mid High Low Mid High Low Mid High
DRC
Stalks-treated1
Straw-treated1
MDGS
Untreated stalks
Supplement
56.00
—
—
35.00
5.00
4.00
10.00
28.66
—
57.33
—
4.00
25.00
23.66
—
47.33
—
4.00
40.00
18.66
—
37.33
—
4.00
10.00
21.50
—
64.50
—
4.00
25.00
17.75
—
53.25
—
4.00
40.00
14.00
—
42.00
—
4.00
10.00
—
21.50
64.50
—
4.00
25.00
—
17.75
53.25
—
4.00
40.00
—
14.00
42.00
—
4.00
1Treated with 5% CaO and 50% DM.
© The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  — Page 57 
Table 2.  Effect of 2:1 or 3:1 distillers grains:corn stalks on steer performance and carcass characteristics. 
Item Control
2:1 Stalks 3:1 Stalks
SEM
DRC1DRC level, % of DM
10% 25% 40% 10% 25% 40% Linear Quad F-Test
Performance
  Initial BW, lb
  DMI, lb/day
  ADG, lb2
  F:G3
  Live BW4, lb
882
24.9
3.77
6.60
1368
 
880
25.3
3.12
8.11
1345
 
888
25.2
3.27
7.71
1369
 
885
25.0
3.46
7.23
1397
 
890
24.7
3.00
8.23
1339
 
888
24.3
3.48
6.98
1359
 
879
24.1
3.40
7.09
1364
12.9
0.67
0.21
—
23.7
—
0.52
0.07
0.04
0.08
—
0.99
0.46
0.46
0.84
0.99
0.81
0.45
0.27
0.54
Carcass Characteristics
  HCW, lb
  Dressing, %5
  LM area, in2
  12th Rib fat, in
  Calc YG
  Marbling6
836
60.9
13.08
0.45
3.20
500
799
59.6
13.77
0.36
2.52
468
815
59.6
14.65
0.40
2.40
452
828
59.3
14.55
0.30
2.23
452
795
59.5
15.17
0.42
2.22
487
831
61.3
14.07
0.42
2.72
503
819
60.2
13.30
0.47
2.97
472
17.4
0.0068
0.68
0.063
0.2993
29.9
0.12
0.77
0.34
0.86
0.36
0.56
0.38
0.20
0.73
0.59
0.74
0.73
0.57
0.36
0.22
0.05
0.05
0.63
1Contrast of DRC level pooled across ratio (no interaction found between ratio and corn level; P > 0.10).
2Calculated from carcass adjusted final BW by HCW/0.62.
3Analyzed as G:F, reciprocal of F:G.
4Pencil shrink of 4% applied.
5Calculated as HCW/Live BW.
6400=Slight 00, 500=Small 00.
Table 3.  Effect of 3:1 distillers grains:corn stalks or wheat straw on steer performance and carcass characteristics.
Item Control
3:1 Stalks 3:1 Wheat Straw
SEM
DRC1DRC level, % of DM
10% 25% 40% 10% 25% 40% Linear Quad F-Test
Performance
  Initial BW, lb
  DMI, lb/day
  ADG, lb2
  F:G3
  Live BW4,lb
882
24.9
3.77
6.60
1368
890
24.7
3.00
8.23
1339
888
24.3
3.48
6.98
1359
879
24.1
3.40
7.09
1364
891
22.8
3.17
7.19
1355
887
24.2
3.44
7.03
1359
893
24.8
3.60
6.89
1375
12.9
0.64
0.22
—
23.2
—
0.28
0.04
0.16
0.24
—
0.15
0.02
0.13
0.13
0.99
0.29
0.41
0.55
0.82
Carcass Characteristics
  HCW, lb
  Dressing, %5
  LM, area in2
  12th Rib fat, in
  Calc YG
  Marbling6
836
60.9
13.08
0.45
3.20
500
795
59.5
15.17
0.42
2.22
487
831
61.3
14.07
0.42
2.72
503
819
60.2
13.30
0.47
2.97
472
808
59.8
13.28
0.45
2.96
518
827
60.8
13.73
0.47
2.91
482
844
61.1
13.73
0.44
2.92
470
17.2
0.0074
0.73
0.070
0.323
33.7
0.08
0.15
0.21
0.73
0.15
0.25
0.05
0.18
0.51
0.49
0.56
0.23
0.46
0.57
0.29
0.99
0.31
0.91
1Contrast of DRC level pooled across ratio (no interaction found between ratio and corn level; P > 0.10).
2Calculated from carcass adjusted final BW by HCW/0.62.
3Analyzed as G:F, reciprocal of F:G.
4Pencil shrink of 4% applied.
5Calculated as HCW/Live BW.
6400=Slight 00, 500=Small 00.
analyzed using the MIXED procedure 
of SAS (SAS Inst., Inc.; Cary, N.C.). 
Initial BW block was considered as a 
fixed effect. The following tests were 
included in the data analysis: F-test 
(used to compare control to the set 
of each six diets in each factorial), 
the interaction term of each factorial, 
which if not significant, data were 
pooled across corn level, to test linear 
and quadratic contrasts of corn across 
2:1 or 3:1 DG:stalks (factorial 1.) or 
DG:CR (factorial 2.). An alpha of  
P < 0.10 was considered significant.
Results
No interactions were detected in 
either factorial; therefore, data were 
pooled across corn level. Increasing 
DRC improved (P = 0.04) F:G and 
increased ADG (P = 0.07) linearly in 
treated stalks diets (Table 2). Increas-
ing DRC quadractically increased 
(P=0.02) ADG and HCW (P = 0.05), 
but had no effect on F:G (P ≥ 0.15) 
with 3:1 ratios (Table 3). No differ-
ences were detected compared to the 
control. The results of this study sug-
gest that a 3:1 ratio of distillers grains 
and treated stover or straw, a maxi-
mum of 20% treated residue (DM 
basis ), and at least 25% DRC are need-
ed to support feed efficiency similar to 
that of a 56% DRC, 5% roughage diet.
1Adam L. Shreck, research technician; 
Cody J. Schneider, research technician; Brandon 
L. Nuttelman, research technician; Dirk B. 
Burken, research technician; Galen E. Erickson, 
professor; Terry J. Klopfenstein, professor, 
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department 
of Animal Science, Lincoln, Neb.; Michael J. 
Cecava, Archer Daniels Midland Company 
Research Division, Decatur, Ill.


Varying Proportions and Amounts of Distillers Grains
and Alkaline-Treated Forage as Substitutes for Corn Grain
in Finishing Cattle Diets

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 2013 Varying Proportions and Amounts of Distillers Grains and Alkaline-Treated Forage as Substitutes for Corn Grain in Finishing Cattle Diets Adam L. Shreck University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cody J. Schneider University of Nebraska-Lincoln Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman University of Nebraska-Lincoln, bnuttelman2@unl.edu Dirk Burken Universitiy of Nebraska--Lincoln, dirk_burken@hotmail.com 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 Shreck, Adam L.; Schneider, Cody J.; Nuttelman, Brandon L. Nuttelman; Burken, Dirk; Erickson, Galen E.; Klopfenstein, Terry; and Cecava, Michael, "Varying Proportions and Amounts of Distillers Grains and Alkaline-Treated Forage as Substitutes for Corn Grain in Finishing Cattle Diets" (2013). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 725. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/725 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 Adam L. Shreck, Cody J. Schneider, Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman, Dirk Burken, Galen E. Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein, and Michael Cecava This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/725 Page 56 — 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved.Varying Proportions and Amounts of Distillers Grainsand Alkaline-Treated Forage as Substitutes for Corn Grain in Finishing Cattle DietsAdam L. ShreckCody J. SchneiderBrandon L. NuttelmanDirk B. BurkenGalen E. EricksonTerry J. KlopfensteinMichael J. Cecava1SummaryA 124-day individually fed finishing study was conducted to evaluate corn grain replacement by distillers grain and 5% CaO treated crop residue. Di-etary treatments were two ratios (2:1 or 3:1) of modified distillers grains and treated crop residues (DGCR), two types of treated crop residue (corn stover or wheat straw) at 3:1 ratio, and then with three dry rolled corn (DRC) levels (10%, 25%, 40%; DM basis). Steers fed diets containing as little as 25% corn and 3:1 ratios of distillers grains and CaO treated crop residues can achieve similar F:G compared with cattle fed diets con-taining 5% roughage and 56% corn.IntroductionPrevious studies have reported similar ADG and F:G when replac-ing up to 15 percentage (Shreck et al., 2012 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 105-107; pp. 108-109) units of corn with inclusion of 20% CaO treated corn stover or wheat straw in diets containing 40% wet or modi-fied distillers grains. The objective of this trial was to test the maximum amount of corn that could be replaced by distillers grains and treated for-age, and whether the ratio of distillers grains to treated residue is an impor-tant factor. ProcedureSixty yearling steers (initial BW: 885 ± 90.9 lb) were individually fed using Calan gates for 124 days. Steers were blocked (n = 2) by BW and assigned randomly to treatments. Steers were limit fed a 50% sweet bran 50% alfalfa hay (DM basis) diet, at 2% of BW for 5 days, and weighed on three consecutive days for ini-tial BW determination. Steers were implanted with Revealor®-S on day 1. Ten dietary treatments (Table 1) were designed as two 2 x 3 factorials. In the first factorial, factors were ratio of distillers grain and corn stalks (2:1 or 3:1; DG:Stalks) with three dry rolled corn (DRC) levels (10%, 25%, 40%; DM basis). In the second factorial, factors were two types of treated crop residue (corn stalks or wheat straw at 3:1 DGCR), with three DRC levels (10%, 25%, 40%; DM basis). Ratios of DGCR replaced DRC and consisted of modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) and treated corn stover at 2:1 or 3:1 of MDGS and treated wheat straw at 3:1. A control was included that contained 35% MDGS, 5% untreated corn stover, and 56% DRC. All diets contained 4% supplement and were formulated for adequate dietary Ca. Chemical treatment con-sisted of water, CaO (Granular Stan-dard Quicklime, Mississippi Lime Co, Kansas City, Mo.), and ground residue (3-inch screen) weighed and mixed in Roto-Mix feed trucks. The mixture was calculated to be 50% DM (treated wheat straw and corn stalks used dur-ing experiment were: 52.7 and 54.7% DM, respectively) with calcium oxide added at 5% of the forage DM. Feed trucks dispensed treated residue into a silage bag and the treatment process was completed at least seven days pri-or to feeding. The pH of treated wheat straw and corn stalks averaged 8.16 and 7.29, respectively, throughout the feeding period. Calcium oxide treat-ment solubilized (relative to untreat-ed) 13.6 and 13.7% of the NDF for treated wheat straw and corn stover, respectively. Orts were assessed week-ly and the amount of DM refused was subtracted from the DM offered to calculate DMI. Steers were weighed on the day prior to slaughter and live BW was used to calculate dressing per-cent [HCW/(live BW*0.96)]. Carcass adjusted final BW was calculated from HCW and a 62% dressed yield was assumed. Carcass adjusted final BW was used to calculate ADG. Data were Table 1.  Diet composition offered to individually fed steers.Ingredient, % of DM Control2:1 Stalks 3:1 Stalks 3:1 Wheat StrawLow Mid High Low Mid High Low Mid HighDRCStalks-treated1Straw-treated1MDGSUntreated stalksSupplement56.00——35.005.004.0010.0028.66—57.33—4.0025.0023.66—47.33—4.0040.0018.66—37.33—4.0010.0021.50—64.50—4.0025.0017.75—53.25—4.0040.0014.00—42.00—4.0010.00—21.5064.50—4.0025.00—17.7553.25—4.0040.00—14.0042.00—4.001Treated with 5% CaO and 50% DM.© The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  — Page 57 Table 2.  Effect of 2:1 or 3:1 distillers grains:corn stalks on steer performance and carcass characteristics. Item Control2:1 Stalks 3:1 StalksSEMDRC1DRC level, % of DM10% 25% 40% 10% 25% 40% Linear Quad F-TestPerformance  Initial BW, lb  DMI, lb/day  ADG, lb2  F:G3  Live BW4, lb88224.93.776.601368 88025.33.128.111345 88825.23.277.711369 88525.03.467.231397 89024.73.008.231339 88824.33.486.981359 87924.13.407.09136412.90.670.21—23.7—0.520.070.040.08—0.990.460.460.840.990.810.450.270.54Carcass Characteristics  HCW, lb  Dressing, %5  LM area, in2  12th Rib fat, in  Calc YG  Marbling683660.913.080.453.2050079959.613.770.362.5246881559.614.650.402.4045282859.314.550.302.2345279559.515.170.422.2248783161.314.070.422.7250381960.213.300.472.9747217.40.00680.680.0630.299329.90.120.770.340.860.360.560.380.200.730.590.740.730.570.360.220.050.050.631Contrast of DRC level pooled across ratio (no interaction found between ratio and corn level; P > 0.10).2Calculated from carcass adjusted final BW by HCW/0.62.3Analyzed as G:F, reciprocal of F:G.4Pencil shrink of 4% applied.5Calculated as HCW/Live BW.6400=Slight 00, 500=Small 00.Table 3.  Effect of 3:1 distillers grains:corn stalks or wheat straw on steer performance and carcass characteristics.Item Control3:1 Stalks 3:1 Wheat StrawSEMDRC1DRC level, % of DM10% 25% 40% 10% 25% 40% Linear Quad F-TestPerformance  Initial BW, lb  DMI, lb/day  ADG, lb2  F:G3  Live BW4,lb88224.93.776.60136889024.73.008.23133988824.33.486.98135987924.13.407.09136489122.83.177.19135588724.23.447.03135989324.83.606.89137512.90.640.22—23.2—0.280.040.160.24—0.150.020.130.130.990.290.410.550.82Carcass Characteristics  HCW, lb  Dressing, %5  LM, area in2  12th Rib fat, in  Calc YG  Marbling683660.913.080.453.2050079559.515.170.422.2248783161.314.070.422.7250381960.213.300.472.9747280859.813.280.452.9651882760.813.730.472.9148284461.113.730.442.9247017.20.00740.730.0700.32333.70.080.150.210.730.150.250.050.180.510.490.560.230.460.570.290.990.310.911Contrast of DRC level pooled across ratio (no interaction found between ratio and corn level; P > 0.10).2Calculated from carcass adjusted final BW by HCW/0.62.3Analyzed as G:F, reciprocal of F:G.4Pencil shrink of 4% applied.5Calculated as HCW/Live BW.6400=Slight 00, 500=Small 00.analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Inst., Inc.; Cary, N.C.). Initial BW block was considered as a fixed effect. The following tests were included in the data analysis: F-test (used to compare control to the set of each six diets in each factorial), the interaction term of each factorial, which if not significant, data were pooled across corn level, to test linear and quadratic contrasts of corn across 2:1 or 3:1 DG:stalks (factorial 1.) or DG:CR (factorial 2.). An alpha of  P < 0.10 was considered significant.ResultsNo interactions were detected in either factorial; therefore, data were pooled across corn level. Increasing DRC improved (P = 0.04) F:G and increased ADG (P = 0.07) linearly in treated stalks diets (Table 2). Increas-ing DRC quadractically increased (P=0.02) ADG and HCW (P = 0.05), but had no effect on F:G (P ≥ 0.15) with 3:1 ratios (Table 3). No differ-ences were detected compared to the control. The results of this study sug-gest that a 3:1 ratio of distillers grains and treated stover or straw, a maxi-mum of 20% treated residue (DM basis ), and at least 25% DRC are need-ed to support feed efficiency similar to that of a 56% DRC, 5% roughage diet.1Adam L. Shreck, research technician; Cody J. Schneider, research technician; Brandon L. Nuttelman, research technician; Dirk B. Burken, research technician; Galen E. Erickson, professor; Terry J. Klopfenstein, professor, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Animal Science, Lincoln, Neb.; Michael J. Cecava, Archer Daniels Midland Company Research Division, Decatur, Ill.

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Varying Proportions and Amounts of Distillers Grains and Alkaline-Treated Forage as Substitutes for Corn Grain in Finishing Cattle Diets

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