Impact of different levels of low-fat dried distillers grains on performance of young Nellore bulls during the finishing phase

Effect of inclusion levels of low-fat dried distillers grains in finishing diets on protein and energy intake and retention and estimation of protein and energy requirements of young Nellore bulls fed with high concentrate diets

The objective was to evaluate the effect of including low-fat dried distillers grains (DDG) in finishing diets on protein and energy intake and retention and to estimate the protein and energy requirement of young Nellore bulls. Thirty-five animals were used: baseline (n = 4), maintenance (n = 4), and ad libitum intake (n = 27). Ad libitum animals were divided into four groups: diets with the inclusion of DDG at the levels of 0, 150, 300, and 450 g/kg (dry matter basis). At the end of the experiment, all animals were slaughtered. There was a linear reduction with increasing DDG levels in the total digestible nutrients intake (p = 0.008), metabolizable energy (ME) intake (p < 0.010), in total retained energy (p = 0.065), and in heat production (p < 0.001). Metabolizable protein (MP) intake increased linearly (p < 0.010) but retained protein did not differ (p = 0.499). Daily net energy and ME requirement for maintenance were 75.9 and 122 kcal/kg^0.75 EBW, respectively. Daily MP for maintenance was 3.6 g/kg^0.75 shrunk body weight. DDG inclusion in finishing diets reduces energy intake and deposition, and we recommend the equations of this study to estimate the requirements of young Nellore bulls.