Effects of Substituting Wet Distillers Grains with Solubles in a Wet Corn Gluten Feed-Based Diet on Finishing Performance

Authors

Cody Nichols, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Matt K. Luebbe, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Rick Stock, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2009

Comments

Published in 2009 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report (Lincoln, NE: December, 2008). Copyright © 2008 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

A finishing study evaluated feeding a wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) ration containing no high moisture corn with varying inclusion levels of wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS), as well as a control diet containing 20% WDGS and 20% WCGF. Wet distillers grains with solubles replaced WCGF at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of the diet. As WDGS replaced WCGF, feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) decreased linearly. However, two steers developed polioencephalomalacia on the treatment that contained 40% WDGS. Steers fed the control diet containing 40% byproduct had greater average daily gain (ADG) and lower F:G than the average of all WCGF:WDGS combination diets. Byproduct feed-based finishing rations can be fed without corn, but performance may be slightly depressed.