Chemical Treatment of Low-quality Forages to Replace Corn in Cattle Finishing Diets

Authors

• Adam L. Shreck, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Brandon L. Nuttelman, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• William A. Griffin Griffin, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Michael J. Cecava, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Date of this Version

2012

Comments

Published in 2012 Beef Cattle Report (2012) p. 106-107. Copyright © 2012 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

A finishing experiment evaluated substitution of corn with crop residues in diets containing wet distillers grains. Corn stover, corn cobs, and wheat straw were alkaline treated at 50% moisture or fed without chemical treatment at 20% inclusion. Chemical treatment improved performance compared to untreated. Compared to control (10% roughage), treated diets had similar performance and carcass merit. Economic analysis revealed $6.46, $21.42, and $36.30 average profit per head advantage for diets containing treated residues relative to control when corn was priced at $3.00, $4.50, and $6.00 per bushel. Feeding chemically treated crop residues and wet distillers grains is a cost-effective strategy for replacing corn in feedlot diets without compromising performance or carcass quality.