Feeding dried distillers grains with solubles to lactating beef cows: impact of excess protein and fat on cow performance, milk production and pre-weaning progeny growth

Bioactive composite films with improved antioxidant and barrier properties prepared from sodium alginate and deep eutectic solvent treated distillers' grains

In this work, a straightforward approach utilizing distillers' grains (DG) waste and sodium alginate (SA) was developed to prepare functional and bioactive packaging films. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were initially synthesized from choline chloride (CO), betaine (BO), glycerol (GO), and oxalic acid. Composite films were then prepared from DES-treated DG slurry and SA at different ratios. Characterization and analysis revealed that adding 75 % CO-treated DG slurry reduced the water vapor permeability (WVP) by over 66 % compared to that of the SA film. Composite films containing CO/BO-treated DG slurry had an ultraviolet light barrier rate exceeding 99 %, while those with 75 % DES-treated DG slurry demonstrated excellent antioxidant activity, with a 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging rate of 80.14 %-88.35 %, representing a 322.45 %-365.73 % increase compared to that of the pure SA film. These composite films also exhibited favorable mechanical properties (31.58 MPa, 5.53 % EB), thermal stability, and biodegradability, extending the shelf life of grapes by 1.8 times. In conclusion, bioactive composite films derived from DES-treated DG are expected to replace petroleum-based plastics, enhancing sustainable biomass use and environmental responsibility.

A Review of the Current State and Future Prospects in Resource Recovery of Chinese Cereal Vinegar Residue

Vinegar residue (VR) is a typical organic solid waste in Chinese cereal vinegar production. It is characterized by high yield, high moisture and low pH and is rich in lignocellulose and other organic matter. To avoid the environmental pollution caused by VR, it should be properly treated. The industry’s existing treatment processes, landfills and incineration, cause secondary pollution and waste of resources. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for environmentally friendly and cost-effective resource recovery technologies for VR. To date, a considerable amount of research has been performed in the area of resource recovery technologies for VR. This review summarizes the reported resource recovery technologies, mainly anaerobic digestion, feed production, fertilizer production, high-value product production and soil/water remediation. The principles, advantages and challenges of these technologies are highlighted. Finally, as a future perspective, a cascade and full utilization model for VR is proposed by considering the inherent drawbacks and economic-environmental feasibility of these technologies.

Long-Term Effects of Maternal Subnutrition in Early Pregnancy on Cow-Calf Performance, Immunological and Physiological Profiles during the Next Lactation

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of undernutrition during the first third of gestation on cow-calf performance, immunological and physiological profiles during the next lactation in two cattle breeds. Fifty-three Parda de Montaña (PA) and 32 Pirenaica (PI) cows were inseminated, assigned to one of two diets (CONTROL or SUBNUT; 100% or 65% of their requirements) until day 82 of gestation, and fed 100% of the requirements during gestation and next lactation. Cow and calf performance were assessed during lactation. Colostrum and cow-calf plasma samples were analyzed to assess the passive transfer of immunoglobulins and to characterize energy metabolism. At calving, SUBNUT cows had a lower body condition score, which impaired most of the cow-calf parameters. All cows had considerable weight losses during lactation except for SUBNUT-PI cows. Colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration was lower in SUBNUT-PI cows, and milk fat content was higher in SUBNUT cows. SUBNUT calves had lower values of body measurements at weaning, and calves born from SUBNUT-PI dams had lower milk intake and the lowest average daily gain (ADG), which was reflected in their lower plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration. In conclusion, undernutrition in early gestation in suckler cows had long-term effects on offspring postnatal growth, this physiological evidence being more severe in Pirenaica cow-calf pairs.

Global transcriptional differences in myokine and inflammatory genes in muscle of mature steer progeny are related to maternal lactation diet and muscle composition

Steer progeny suckled by cows fed a dried distillers grains and solubles (DDGS) diet the first 3 mo of lactation were heavier during feedlot finishing and had significantly lower marbling and larger longissimus muscles than steers suckled by cows fed a control diet (CON). These differences were profound in that progeny were managed and fed identically from weaning until finishing, and findings suggest that the suckling period established the developmental program of muscle composition. Here transcriptomes of longissimus muscle were measured by next-generation sequencing to investigate whether there were any developmental clues to the differences in marbling scores and muscle content between steers suckled by DDGS ( n = 5) vs. control (CON; n = 5) diet-fed cows during lactation. There were 809 genes differentially expressed ( P-adj<0.1) between CON and DDGS muscle. Of these 636 were upregulated and 173 downregulated in DDGS relative to CON. Overall the DDGS vs. CON muscle transcriptomic signature was promyogenic and antiadipogenic. In particular, myokines/satellite cell maintenance factors were found among upregulated (LIF, CNTF, FGFB1, EPHB1) genes. The antiadipogenic signature was typified by the upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines and receptors (IL1RAP, IL1RL2, IL13RA2, IL1F10), and downregulation of expression of inflammation/inflammatory cytokines and receptor (TNF, IL6R, CXCL9), which suggests a selection of differentiation pathways away from adipogenic line. The upregulation of TGFB, SPP1, and INHBA supports selection of fibroblast lineage of cells. Thus, the lactation phase of production can effect meat quality by affecting transcriptional signatures that favor myogenesis and depress inflammation.

Feeding dried distillers grains with solubles to lactating beef cows: impact of excess protein and fat on post-weaning progeny growth, glucose tolerance and carcass traits

Feeding dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), a feed high in fat and protein, to lactating beef cows can alter milk production and composition, resulting in improved pre-weaning growth of progeny. This alteration in milk profile may consequently alter the growth and carcass composition of the offspring after weaning. Therefore, Angus×Simmental steers (n=48) whose dams were fed one of two diets supplemented with either DDGS or soybean meal (CON) from calving to mid-lactation were placed in a feedlot to determine the effects of maternal nutrition during lactation on progeny development and carcass composition. Cow-calf pairs were allotted to two treatments at birth based on cow and calf BW, breed and age. Maternal diets were isocaloric (3.97 MJ/kg NEg) and consisted of rye hay supplemented with DDGS at 1% of BW (19.4% CP; 8.76% fat) or rye hay and corn silage supplemented with CON (11.7% CP; 2.06% fat). After conclusion of the treatments at 129 days postpartum, cow-calf pairs were comingled and managed as one group until weaning at 219 days postpartum. Steers were then transitioned to a common diet composed of 60% DDGS, 34% corn silage and 6% vitamin/mineral supplement and were placed indoors in individual pens with slatted floors. An intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed 134 days after feedlot entry on 16 steers (CON, n=7; DDGS, n=9) to determine the effect of maternal diet on glucose and insulin sensitivity. Steers were slaughtered at a target BW of 645 kg. Categorical and continuous data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX and MIXED procedures of SAS, respectively. Steers from DDGS dams tended to be heavier on day 85 of feedlot finishing (P=0.09) compared with steers from CON dams. However, there were no differences in final weight, average daily gain, dry matter intake or efficiency (gain:feed, P⩾0.18). Maternal treatments did not affect progeny days on feed (P=0.15), despite a mean difference of 9 days in favor of DDGS. Glucose and insulin concentrations and area under the curve of progeny as measured by IVGTT were not affected by maternal diet (P⩾0.16). Maternal DDGS supplementation decreased marbling score (P=0.04), but did not influence carcass grading percentage or any other carcass characteristic (P⩾0.17).

Effect of dried distiller's grains plus solubles in postpartum diets of beef cows on reproductive performance of dam and heifer progeny

Forty-eight primiparous and multiparous cows were fed a silage-based total mixed ration (TMR; CON), a TMR with 2.5 kg/d DM dried distiller's grains plus solubles (DDGS; MID), or a TMR with 4.7 kg/d DM DDGS (HIGH) from 8.5 ± 4 to 116 ± 4 d postpartum (DPP). All diets were formulated to be isocaloric for a postpartum ADG targeted at 0.22 kg, whereas CP exceeded requirements in both diets containing DDGS. Blood samples were collected from dams at 7- and 21-d intervals for progesterone concentration (resumption of cyclicity) and plasma urea nitrogen, respectively. A weigh-suckle-weigh procedure was used to measure milk production, and samples were collected for milk composition and fatty acid profile. A 5-d Co-Synch + controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol was used, and cows were bred (97 ± 4 DPP) by timed AI (TAI). Ultrasonography was used for measurement of the largest antral follicle at TAI and pregnancy diagnosis. Nineteen days after TAI, cow and calf pairs were managed as a single group until weaning and exposed to natural mating for a total of a 60-d breeding season. Starting at weaning, blood samples were collected from heifer offspring at 7-d intervals for progesterone concentration used as an indicator of puberty. A 5-d Co-Synch + CIDR protocol was used, and heifers were bred by TAI. Transrectal ultrasonography was used for measurement of the largest antral follicle at TAI and antral follicle count (AFC) at CIDR device insertion as well as pregnancy diagnosis. There were no differences in dam ADG ( = 0.364); however, DMI decreased with increasing DDGS ( < 0.0001), resulting in an increased feed efficiency ( = 0.042). Milk fat and lactose tended to increase with the addition of DDGS in the diet ( ≤ 0.055), and milk urea nitrogen increased ( < 0.001). There were no differences in resumption of cyclicity ( = 1.00) or diameter of the largest antral follicle ( ≥ 0.372). Timed AI pregnancy rates were not different with the addition of DDGS in the diet ( ≥ 0.174). Heifer ADG was reduced with DDGS during late lactation ( = 0.031). Heifer AFC had a tendency to increase with increasing DDGS ( = 0.081), with no impacts on dominant follicle diameter at TAI ( = 0.161). Heifer TAI pregnancy rate also was not different among treatments ( = 0.508). Overall, feeding 4.7 kg/d DM of DDGS to dams during early lactation increases feed efficiency of the dam, with minor statistically significant effects on dam or heifer offspring reproduction.

Using corn gluten feed in post-partum diets of young beef cows to optimize reproductive performance

Forty-eight primiparous and diparous Angus-Simmental cows were fed 1 of 3 diets; 1) total mixed ration (TMR) based of corn silage and corn stalks (CON), 2) TMR with 3.3 kg/d DM of corn gluten feed (CGF; MID), or 3) TMR with 6.7 kg/d DM of CGF (HIGH). From 11 ± 5 days post-partum (DPP) to 105 ± 5 DPP, all diets were formulated to be isocaloric for a post-partum ADG targeted at 0.22 kg, but CP exceeded requirements in both CGF diets. Blood samples were collected from cows starting at trial initiation until estrous synchronization for determination of plasma progesterone concentration (7 d intervals), as an indicator of resumption of cyclicity, as well as for plasma urea nitrogen (PUN; 21 d intervals). Milk production was assessed at 62 ± 5 DPP via a weigh-suckle-weigh procedure, and milk samples were collected at 64 ± 5 DPP for composition analysis. A 5 d Co-Synch + Control Internal Drug Release (CIDR) protocol was used and cows were bred by timed artificial insemination (TAI). Trans-rectal ultrasonography was used for the evaluation of the dominant follicle at TAI, as well as pregnancy diagnosis. Nineteen days post-TAI, cow and calf pairs were managed as a single group until weaning (205 ± 5 DPP) and exposed to natural mating for a total of a 60 d breeding season. Dam ADG was not significantly different among treatments (P = 0.849), but, DMI decreased with increasing CGF in the diet (P = 0.049). There were no differences in final BW (P = 0.779), however, final BCS was lower in the HIGH treatment when compared to the MID (P = 0.042). Milk production (P = 0.457), as well as, milk components (P ≥ 0.188) were not different, with the exception of milk fat, which tended to be greater in the HIGH treatment (P = 0.059) when compared to the MID. A treatment by week interaction (P < 0.0001) was found for PUN concentrations. Concentrations were greater in the HIGH treatment compared to the MID treatment at 63, 84, and 105 d, and greater than the CON treatment at all time points except d-42. There were no differences in resumption of cyclicity (P = 0.419), dominant follicle (P = 0.648), or TAI conception rates (P = 0.761). However, season long pregnancy rates were significantly greater in the CGF treatments when compared to the CON (P = 0.009). In summary, feeding high or intermediate amounts of CGF neither has a positive nor negative effect on TAI conception rates of beef cows, however, it positively affected season long pregnancy.

Feeding corn distillers grains as an energy source to gestating and lactating beef heifers: Impact of excess protein on feedlot performance, glucose tolerance, carcass characteristics and Longissimus muscle fatty acid profile of steer progeny

This study was conducted to determine the impact of dried distiller's grain with solubles (DDGS) from 192 days of gestation through 118 days of lactation on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, Longissimus muscle (LM) fatty acids and glucose tolerance of male progeny (n = 36). Angus-Simmental heifer dams were fed diets that contained either DDGS (DG) or not (CON) formulated to provide similar daily net energy for gain but differing crude protein. In the feedlot, male progeny were fed a diet devoid of DDGS. An intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed on a subset of 20 steers prior to harvest. Steers were harvested at a common 12th rib fat depth. Data were analyzed with the GLIMMIX and MIXED procedures of SAS. Performance (P ≥ 0.11) and glucose and insulin concentrations during IVGTT (P ≥ 0.24) did not differ between treatments. Dressing percentage tended to be greater (P = 0.09) in DG than CON progeny, but all other carcass characteristics did not differ (P ≥ 0.18). Progeny from DG dams had greater LM 16:2, 18:0, and 20:1 n-9 concentrations than progeny from CON dams (P ≤ 0.02). In conclusion, DDGS are a viable option for gestating and lactating beef cows.