Animal Science, Department of
First Advisor
James C. MacDonald
Date of this Version
12-2017
Document Type
Article
Citation
Hansen, B. H. 2017. Evaluation of Corn Condensed Distillers Solubles in Beef Cattle Diets and Grazing Double-Cropped Forages Following Corn Harvest. MS Thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Abstract
Corn condensed distillers solubles (CDS) is a protein and energy dense by-product from dry-milled production of ethanol. Recent oil extraction has posed modifications to the nutrient profile of CDS, suggesting that de-oiled CDS needs to be re-evaluated in beef cattle diets. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of CDS in high-concentrate diets, forage-based diets, as well as evaluate the effects of CDS on diet digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters in forage-based diets. Feeding CDS in high-concentrate diets up to 20% of the diet DM or in combination with wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) improved performance and resulted in greater energy value compared to corn. Feeding values of 20% CDS or the combination of 16% CDS and 20% WDGS were 147 and 129% compared to corn, respectively. Feeding CDS in forage-based diets up to 40% of the diet DM diminished performance and resulted in a lesser energy value compared to corn. Linear decreases were observed in total tract digestibility of NDF and the acetate to propionate ratio in rumen fluid.
Double-cropped forages following corn harvest offer livestock producers an opportunity to extend their grazing season on high quality forage in the fall. Additionally, crop producers may benefit from the implementation of grazing animals due to added soil nutrients and removal of residue. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of double-cropped oats following corn silage (CS) or high-moisture corn (HMC) on calf gains, forage production, and subsequent cash crop yields. Oats seeded after CS produced more forage biomass than oats seeded after HMC. Both treatments produced high quality oats (22% CP, 39% NDF, and 24% ADF averaged across treatments). Calf gains were greater grazing oats following CS compared to HMC at 1.10 and 0.84 kg / d, respectively. Across 1-yr of data, subsequent cash crop yields were not different for HMC and soybeans with increased CS yields in both covered/grazed and non-covered/non-grazed treatments compared to the covered/non-grazed treatment.
Advisor: James C. MacDonald
Comments
A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science, Major: Animal Science, Under the Supervision of Professor James C. MacDonald. Lincoln, Nebraska: December 2017
Copyright (c) 2017 Benjamin H. Hansen