A 2 × 3 factorial finishing study evaluated feeding 0 or 30% high protein distillers grains or conventionally produced distillers in either steam- flaked or dry- rolled corn based diets. Feeding conventional distillers grains in dry rolled corn based diets resulted in improved feed conversion, with no difference between high protein distillers grains as compared to conventional DDGS when included in dryrolled corn diets. In steam flaked corn- based diets, feeding high protein distillers and conventional distillers tended to increase feed conversion. Feeding conventional distillers or high protein distillers grains resulted in greater DMI and ADG as compared to diets with no distillers inclusion in both dry- rolled and steam- flaked diets. Cattle consuming SFC had lower DMI than DRC, which lead to improved feed conversions as expected. Th e response to feeding DDGS is different whether replacing dry- rolled corn or steamflaked corn, but high protein distillers was fairly similar to conventional DDGS

Boyd, B.M.

Erickson, Galen E.

McPhilips, L.J.

Ovinge, Lauren A.

English

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 
2020 
Effect of Conventional or High Protein Dry Distillers Grains Plus 
Solubles in Either Dry- Rolled or Steam- Flaked Corn Based Diets 
on Finishing Performance of Steers 
Lauren A. Ovinge 
L.J. McPhilips 
B.M. Boyd 
Galen E. Erickson 
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2020 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report · 75 
©  Th e Board Regents of the University of 
Nebraska. All rights reserved.
Procedures
A 2 × 3 factorial fi nishing study eval-
uated three treatments of DDGS in either 
DRC- or SFC- based fi nishing diets. Th e 
DDGS treatments were no distillers includ-
ed in the diet (CON), a diet including con-
ventionally produced DDGS (DDGS), and 
diets including high protein DDGS (HiPro). 
Corn processing factors included feeding 
either SFC or DRC as a grain source. Diets 
are provided in Table 1. A 202- day fi nishing 
trial was conducted at the University of 
Nebraska feedlot near Mead, Nebraska 
using 360 crossbred steers (initial BW = 
635 ± 1.19 lb) sorted into 3 BW blocks 
and assigned randomly to one of 36 pens 
(10 steers/pen; 1 repetition heavy block, 4 
repetitions medium block and 1 repetition 
in the light block). All steers were limit- fed 
a common diet of 50% alfalfa hay and 50% 
distillers products. Th ese new processes will 
create a byproduct known as high protein 
DDGS (HiPro), which is approximately 
40% crude protein (CP) as compared to 
conventional DDGS at 30% CP. Th e value 
of this new concentrated product and its 
eff ect on growth performance as compared 
to conventional DDGS has not yet been 
evaluated. Th erefore, the objective of this 
study was to evaluate the feeding value of 
HiPro as compared to conventional DDGS 
in beef cattle fi nishing diets and how the 
feeding value is aff ected when fed in either 
DRC or steam fl aked corn (SFC) based di-
ets. Th e HiPro DDGS is generally targeted 
at non- ruminant species, therefore, fed as 
DDGS. In addition, many yards that steam- 
fl ake corn, utilize DDGS as a protein source 
as they tend to be further away (Southern 
Plains).
Lauren A. Ovinge
L.J. McPhilips
B.M. Boyd
Galen E. Erickson
Summary with Implications
A 2 × 3 factorial fi nishing study evaluated 
feeding 0 or 30% high protein distillers grains 
or conventionally produced distillers in either 
steam- fl aked or dry- rolled corn based diets. 
Feeding conventional distillers grains in dry 
rolled corn based diets resulted in improved 
feed conversion, with no diff erence between 
high protein distillers grains as compared to 
conventional DDGS when included in dry- 
rolled corn diets. In steam fl aked corn- based 
diets, feeding high protein distillers and 
conventional distillers tended to increase feed 
conversion. Feeding conventional distillers 
or high protein distillers grains resulted in 
greater DMI and ADG as compared to diets 
with no distillers inclusion in both dry- rolled 
and steam- fl aked diets. Cattle consuming 
SFC had lower DMI than DRC, which lead 
to improved feed conversions as expected. 
Th e response to feeding DDGS is diff erent 
whether replacing dry- rolled corn or steam- 
fl aked corn, but high protein distillers was 
fairly similar to conventional DDGS.
Introduction
Th e protein fraction of dry distillers 
grains plus solubles (DDGS) is partially 
attributed to the reason cattle have positive 
performance when fed distillers grains in 
dry rolled corn (DRC) based diets (2016 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 124– 127). 
As the ethanol industry has continued to 
evaluate changes in the process, their ability 
to fractionate and improve ethanol yields 
have improved, resulting in a byproduct in 
which all other nutrients, including protein, 
become more concentrated. Removal of 
fi ber in the process helps diff erentiate two 
 Eff ect of Conventional or High Protein Dry Distillers 
Grains Plus Solubles in Either Dry- Rolled or Steam- Flaked 
Corn Based Diets on Finishing Performance of Steers
Table 1. Diet composition (DM basis) for steers fed dry- rolled or steam- fl aked corn with 0 or 30% 
distillers grains products.
Ingredient
Treatment1
CON DDGS HiPro
DRC SFC DRC SFC DRC SFC
Dry- Rolled Corn 87.0 - 57.0 - 57.0 - 
Steam Flaked Corn - 87.0 - 57.0 - 57.0
DDGS - - 30.0 30.0 - - 
High Protein DDGS - - - - 30.0 30.0
Sorghum Silage 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0
Dry Supplement2 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
Nutrient Composition3
 Crude Protein, % 12.91 12.64 15.22 15.04 17.50 17.33
 Starch 62.68 62.85 44.58 44.70 44.13 44.20
 NDF, % 14.35 13.44 21.73 21.73 23.39 22.80
 ADF, % 7.53 7.25 10.56 10.37 12.97 12.80
 Ether Extract, % 3.96 3.10 5.35 4.79 5.17 4.61
1Treatments were control (CON), regularly produced DDGS included in the diet at 30% (DDGS) or high protein DDGS included 
in the diet at 30% (HiPro), fed with either dry rolled corn (DRC) or steam fl aked corn (SFC)
2Supplement formulated to be fed at 5.0% of diet DM. Supplement consisted of 1.3925% fi ne ground corn in the CON supple-
ment and 2.7925% fi ne ground corn in the DDGS and HiPro supplement, and 1.4% urea in the CON supplement and 0% 
urea in the DDGS and HiPro supplements, 1.50% limestone, 0.125% tallow, 0.30% salt, 0.05% trace mineral package, 0.015% 
Vitamin A- D- E package as a percentage of the fi nal diet. It was also formulated for 30 g/ton Rumensin®(Elanco Animal Health, 
DM Basis) and 8.8 g/ton Tylan® (Elanco Animal Health, DM basis).
3Based on analyzed nutrients for each ingredient.
76 · 2020 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
no change or negative impact on ADG 
and F:G However, in DRC- based diets, the 
feeding DDGS is typically positive, with im-
provements observed in ADG and F:G. In 
this study, F:G was improved when DDGS 
were fed in DRC- based diets, but was not 
imprved in SFC- based diets. Th ere was an 
interaction (P = 0.02) in Longissimus mus-
cle (LM)area, with cattle consuming DRC- 
CON having the smallest LM area, and SFC 
DDGS having the greatest LM area, with 
all other treatments being intermediate. 
No other interactions (P > 0.22) in growth 
performance or carcass characteristics were 
observed.
Distillers Grains Plus 
Solubles Treatment
Including DDGS or HiPro in the diet 
increased (P < 0.01) fi nal body weight, DMI 
and ADG over the CON treatment (Table 
3). Final carcass adjusted body weight 
increased (P < 0.01) 58.4 lb with DDGS 
and 40.8 lb with HiPro over CON. Th e 
greater fi nal carcass adjusted body weight 
for HiPro and DDGS was in response to the 
adjusted values were used to determine 
ADG and feed conversion. Other carcass 
characteristics included marbling score, 12th 
rib fat thickness and LM area, which were 
recorded aft er a 48- h chill.
Data were analyzed using the MIXED 
procedures of SAS as a randomized block 
design with pen as the experimental unit 
and block as a fi xed eff ect. Liver scores were 
analyzed using a binominal distribution 
with the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Data 
were fi rst analyzed for an interaction, and 
main eff ects of each factor were analyzed if 
an interaction was not observed.
Results
Th ere was an interaction (P = 0.02) be-
tween DGS treatment and corn processing 
for F:G (Table 2). In DRC- based diets, F:G 
improved 4.4% with 30% DDGS in the diet. 
However, in SFC- based diets, feed conver-
sion tended (P = 0.10) to increase approx-
imately 2.3% with the inclusion of either 
DDGS or HiPro in the diet as compared 
to the CON. Typical response of feeding 
DDGS in SFC- based diets has been either 
SweetBran® at 2% of BW for 5 days prior 
to trial initiation to minimize gastrointes-
tinal fi ll. Initial BW was measured on two 
consecutive days (d0 and d1) and averaged. 
Steers were fed a supplement that included 
30 g/ton DM of Rumensin® (Elanco Animal 
Health) and 8.8 g/ton of Tylan® (Elanco 
Animal Health). Cattle were implanted with 
Revalor- XS® (Merck Animal Health) on d1 
of the experiment.
Steam fl aked corn was processed to a 
fl ake density of 26 lb/bu and was obtained 
from a nearby feedlot (Raikes Feedlot, 
Ashland, NE) and obtained approximately 
every three days. Dried distillers grains plus 
solubles and the HiPro were obtained from 
ICM (St. Jospeh, MO) and delivered prior 
to trial initiation. All diets were fed once 
daily, with refusals being assessed prior to 
feeding each morning at approximately 
0530. Refusals were subsampled and dried 
in a 60°C oven for 48 hours to determine 
DMI. Cattle were slaughtered on d 202 at 
a commercial abattoir (Greater Omaha, 
Omaha, NE). Carcass- adjusted fi nal body 
weight was determined using 63% dressing 
percentage based on the HCW recorded 
at the commercial abattoir, the carcass 
Table 2. Simple eff ects of corn processing when fed with no distillers grains, conventional DDGS, or DDGS with greater protein on growth performance 
and carcass characteristics of fi nishing cattle
Item
Treatment1
SEM
P- Value2
Control DDGS HiPro
Corn Distiller IntDRC SFC DRC SFC DRC SFC
Performance
Initial BW, lb 636 636 637 636 636 634 1.2 0.26 0.73 0.69
Final BW, lb3 1267 1284 1343 1323 1315 1317 10.8 0.94 <0.01 0.22
DMI, lb/day 19.95 18.40 21.54 19.97 21.01 19.88 0.370 <0.01 <0.01 0.80
ADG, lb3 3.16 3.24 3.54 3.44 3.39 3.41 0.053 0.99 <0.01 0.22
Feed:Gain 6.37a 5.71c 6.13b 5.85c 6.21ab 5.85c - <0.01 0.73 0.02
Carcass Characteristics
HCW, lb 798 809 846 834 829 830 6.8 0.95 <0.01 0.22
LM Area, in2 12.98a 13.65c 13.56bc 13.82c 13.41bc 13.19ab 0.154 0.06 0.02 0.02
Marbling Score4 513 505 499 490 533 515 16.7 0.40 0.20 0.95
Backfat Th ickness, in 0.48 0.48 0.50 0.53 0.56 0.52 0.022 0.90 0.03 0.37
Yield Grade5 2.97 2.81 3.03 2.96 3.16 3.14 0.080 0.19 <0.01 0.65
Liver Abscesses, %6 3.57 3.45 1.79 1.72 3.57 0.00 - - - - 
1Treatments were control (CON), regularly produced DDGS included in the diet at 30% (DDGS) or high protein DDGS included in the diet at 30% (HiPro), fed with either dry rolled corn (DRC) or 
steam fl aked corn (SFC)
2Int = P- value for the interaction of corn processing method and DGS treatment. Corn = P- Value for the main eff ect of corn processing eff ect. Distiller = P- Value for the main eff ect of DGS treat-
ment
3Calculated from hot carcass weight, adjusted to a common 63% dressing percentage
4 Marbling Score 400- Small00, 500 = Modest00
5 Calculated YG (yield grade) = [2.5 + (6.35 × fat thickness, cm) + (0.2 × 2.5% KPH) + (0.0017 × HCW, kg)— (2.06 × LM area, cm2)]; (USDA, 2016).
6Did not converge
2020 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report · 77 
not give the same response observed in 
DRC- based diets.
Lauren A. Ovinge, graduate student
L.J. McPhilips, research technician
B.M. Boyd, research technician
Galen E. Erickson, professor, Animal 
Science, University of Nebraska– Lincoln
increases F:G but improves ADG. Feeding 
HiPro DDGS, despite the higher CP 
content, resulted in similar performance 
to cattle consuming conventionally 
produced DDGS. In SFC- based diets, 
feeding a higher protein byproduct 
such as DDGS and HiPro resulted in no 
improvements in feed conversion, and did 
greater ADG and DMI observed, with cattle 
consuming DDGS gaining 9% more daily 
as compared to CON, and 6.3% greater 
with HiPro, with DDGS tending (P = 0.10) 
to have greater ADG than HiPro. Average 
daily gain was likely increased due to the 
increase in DMI, which increased (P < 
0.01) 8.0% with DDGS and 6.3% for HiPro 
over the CON treatment. Th e response to 
excess protein fl owing into the duodenum 
likely created the growth response, as cattle 
derived energy from the breakdown of 
excess amino acids in the small intestine 
for growth purposes. Th is has been well 
documented in previous research (2016 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 124– 127). 
Marbling score was unaff ected by DGS 
treatment in the diet; however, backfat 
thickness increased (P < 0.01) from 0.48- in 
for CON to 0.52- in for DDGS and 0.55- in 
for HiPro, resulting in a greater USDA yield 
grade for steers fed HiPro.
Corn Processing Treatment
Steam fl aked corn resulted in a reduc-
tion in DMI from 20.8 lb/d for DRC to 19.4 
lb/d (Table 4). Despite lower DMI, SFC- 
based diets had similar (P = 0.98) ADG to 
DRC, averaging 3.36 lb/d for both treat-
ments. Th is is a typical energetic response 
observed with SFC compared to DRC, as 
the energy derived from the more digestible 
starch in SFC reduces DMI requirements to 
meet energetic requirements of the animal. 
Final carcass adjusted body weight and hot 
carcass weight were not diff erent (P ≥ 0.92) 
between SFC and DRC- based treatments. 
Cattle on the diff erent corn processing 
treatments were slaughtered at compara-
ble endpoints, as there was no statistical 
diff erence (P = 0.90) on backfat thickness 
of 0.51 in of backfat for both treatments, 
similar marbling (P = 0.40) and similar (P = 
0.19) yield grade scores. Lack of diff erences 
in carcass characteristics were attributed to 
the fact cattle did not have diff erent ADG, 
which likely resulted in similar carcass 
deposition, despite lower DMI for SFC 
based diets.
Conclusions
Feeding DDGS in DRC- based diets 
increases ADG and improves F:G. 
Feeding DDGS in SFC- based diets slightly 
Table 3. Main eff ect of DGS treatment on growth performance and carcass characteristics of fi nishing 
cattle
Item
Treatment1
SEM P- Value2CON DDGS HiPro
Pens 12 12 12
Performance
Initial BW, lb 636 636 635 0.86 0.73
Final BW, lb3 1275a 1333b 1316ab 7.95 <0.01
DMI, lb/day 19.17a 20.76b 20.45b 0.262 <0.01
ADG, lb3 3.20a 3.49b 3.40b 0.038 <0.01
Carcass Characteristics
HCW, lb 804a 840b 829b 5.0 <0.01
Marbling Score4 509 494 524 12.29 0.20
Backfat Th ickness, in 0.48a 0.51ab 0.54b 0.016 0.03
Yield Grade 2.89a 3.00ab 3.15b 0.059 <0.01
Liver Abscesses, % 3.51 1.75 1.79 - - 
a,bMeans with diff erent superscripts diff er ( P < 0.05).
1 Treatments were control (CON; no DDGS inclusion), a conventional DDGS included in the diet at 30% (DDGS), and high 
protein DDGS included in the diet at 30% (HiPro)
2P- value for the main eff ect of DGS treatment
3Calculated from hot carcass weight, adjusted to a common 63% dressing percentage
4Marbling Score 400- Small00, 500 = Modest00
Table 4. Main eff ect of corn processing method on growth performance and carcass characteristics
Item
Treatment1
SEM P- value2SFC DRC
Pens, n 18 18
Performance
Initial BW, lb 636 635 0.73 0.26
Final BW, lb3 1309 1308 6.7 0.94
DMI, lb/day 20.83 19.42 0.214 <0.01
ADG, lb3 3.36 3.36 0.031 0.99
Carcass Characteristics
HCW, lb 824 824 4.2 0.95
Marbling Score4 515 503 10.4 0.40
Backfat Th ickness, in 0.51 0.51 0.014 0.90
Yield Grade 3.05 2.97 0.050 0.19
Liver Abscesses, % 2.976 1.734 - - 
1Treatments were steam fl aked corn (SFC) or dry rolled corn (DRC) as a grain source in the diet
2P- Value for the main eff ect of corn processing treatment
3Calculated from hot carcass weight, adjusted to a common 63% dressing percentage
4Marbling Score 400 = Small00, 500 = Modest00


Effect of Conventional or High Protein Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles in Either Dry- Rolled or Steam- Flaked Corn Based Diets on Finishing Performance of Steers

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2091&amp;context=animalscinbcr

Effect of Conventional or High Protein Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles in Either Dry- Rolled or Steam- Flaked Corn Based Diets on Finishing Performance of Steers

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