The Effects on Ruminal pH, Feed Intake and Digestibility When Using Wet Corn Gluten Feed to Adapt Cattle to Finishing Diets

Authors

Taia Huls, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Nathan Meyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Rick Stock, 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 33-day grain adaptation trial was conducted comparing wet corn gluten feed (WCGF; Sweet Bran®, Cargill) fed at decreasing levels (87.5% to 35%) to a traditional grain adaptation with decreasing forage (45% to 7.5%; CON) to test the effects on ruminal pH, dry matter intake (DMI) and in situ DM digestibility. Steers adapted by decreasing WCGF had greater DMI than CON (P < 0.01). During adaptation, DMI increased and ruminal pH decreased across both treatments. Steers adapted using WCGF had greater in situ DM digestion than steers adapted using CON. Diets containing WCGF had greater DM digestibility than diets containing forage, whether incubated in either CON or WCGF fed steers. Decreasing WCGF inclusion instead of forage is a viable method for adapting feedlot cattle to high-concentrate diets.