Economics of Distillers Grains Supplementation in a Forage System with Spayed Heifers

Authors

Kari L. Gillespie, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
James C. MacDonald Donald, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Brandon L. Nuttelman, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Cody J. Schneider, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Galen Erickson, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
J. D. Volesky, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

2014 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, UNL Extension MP99, pp. 43-45.

Comments

Copyright © 2014 University of Nebraska.

Abstract

In a two-year study, spayed heifer calves were backgrounded on cornstalks with 2 lb or 5 lb wet distillers grains with solubles supplemented daily. During the summer, heifers grazed native range and received no summer supplementation or were supplemented with modified distillers grains with solubles at 0.6% BW daily. Heifers were finished on a common regimen, and an economic scenario was applied to each phase of production and overall. Supplementing more in winter increased profit, but summer supplementation did not impact overall profitability. Numerically, heifers not supplemented during the summer were more profitable than supplemented heifers.