Supplementing DDGS to Steers Grazing Smooth Bromegrass Pastures

Authors

Andrea K. Watson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
William A. Griffin, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Universitiy of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Galen Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Kelly R. Brink, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Walter H. Schacht, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2011

Comments

Published in 2011 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Published by the Agricultural Research Division, University of Nebraska Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Copyright © 2011 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

Five years of data were summarized to evaluate cattle and pasture performance when smooth bromegrass pastures were fertilized or cattle were supplemented daily with dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) on nonfertilized pastures. Cattle were supplemented at 0.6% of BW for an average of 158 days. Supplemented cattle gained 0.59 lb/day more than unsupplemented cattle. As forage quality declined over the grazing season, ADG also declined but the cattle’s response to DDGS supplementation increased. Each 1 lb of DDGS supplement replaced approximately 1 lb of forage intake. Pastures with supplemented cattle had increased forage production compared to control pastures but less forage production than fertilized pastures.