Timing of maternal supplementation of dried distillers grains during late gestation influences postnatal growth, immunocompetence, and carcass characteristics of Bos indicus-influenced beef calves

This 2-yr study investigated the timing of dried distillers grains (DDG) supplementation during the third trimester of gestation of Bos indicus-influenced beef cows and its impact on their offspring performance. On day 0 of each year (84 d before calving), Brangus cows (n = 84/yr; cow age = 8 ± 3 yr) were stratified by initial body weight (BW; 482 ± 75 kg) and body condition score (BCS; 5.3 ± 0.8) and assigned randomly to one of six bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures (experimental units; 14 cows/pasture). Treatments were assigned randomly to pasture (2 pastures/treatment/yr) and consisted of no prepartum supplementation (CON), 2 kg/d of DDG from day 0 to 42 (LATE42), or 1 kg/d of DDG from day 0 to 84 (LATE84). Following calving (day 84), cow-calf pairs remained in their respective pastures, and cows were offered sugarcane molasses + urea (1.82 kg of dry matter/cow/d) from day 85 until the end of the breeding season (day 224). On day 347, steer calves (n = 38/yr; 11 to 15 steers/treatment/yr) were weaned and transported to the feedlot (1,193 km). Steers were penned according to cow prepartum pasture and managed similarly until the time of harvest. BCS at calving was greater (P < 0.01) for LATE42 and LATE84 vs. CON cows but did not differ (P = 0.16) between LATE42 and LATE84 cows. Calving date, calving percentage, and birth BW of the first offspring did not differ (P ≥ 0.22) among treatments. However, LATE42 cows calved their second offspring 8 d earlier (P = 0.04) compared with CON and LATE84 cows. At weaning (first offspring), LATE84 calves were the heaviest (P ≤ 0.05), CON calves were the lightest, and LATE42 calves had intermediate BW (P ≤ 0.05). Steer plasma concentrations of cortisol and haptoglobin and serum bovine viral diarrhea virus type-1 titers did not differ (P ≥ 0.21) between treatments. Steer serum parainfluenza-3 titers were greater (P = 0.03) for LATE42 vs. CON steers, tended to be greater (P = 0.10) for LATE84 compared with CON steers, and did not differ (P = 0.38) between LATE42 and LATE84 steers. Steer feedlot BW, average daily gain, dry matter intake, and hot carcass weight did not differ (P ≥ 0.36) between treatments. Marbling and the percentage of steers grading choice were greater (P ≤ 0.04) for LATE42 vs. CON steers, whereas LATE84 steers were intermediate. In summary, different timing of DDG supplementation during the third trimester of gestation could be explored to optimize cow BCS and offspring preweaning growth and carcass quality.

Ruminal degradation kinetics, intake, digestibility, and feeding behavior of beef steers offered annual or perennial grass-hay with or without supplementation

Effects of dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) on ruminal fermentation, degradation kinetics, and feeding behavior of steers offered annual (Eragrostis tef; TEFF) or perennial (Bothriochloa bladhii; OWB) grass hay were evaluated. Ruminally cannulated Angus crossbred steers (n = 6; body weight [BW] = 304 ± 11 kg) were assigned to a 4 × 6 unbalanced Latin square design with four treatments arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial: hay type (OWB or TEFF) and DDGS supplementation (0% or 0.5% BW [dry matter {DM} basis]). Steers had ad libitum access to hay. Periods consisted of a 14-d adaptation followed by 7 d of collection. Residues from the in situ incubations (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 h post-feeding) were fitted to a first-order kinetics model using the NLIN procedure of SAS. The DDGS decreased (P < 0.01) TEFF DM intake (DMI) by 11.3%, while not affecting DMI of OWB. The greatest DMI was observed for steers supplemented with DDGS, regardless of forage, and least in steers consuming OWB without DDGS (hay type × DDGS; P = 0.03). Non-supplemented steers spent more (P < 0.01) time eating hay. Digestibility of DM tended (P = 0.06) to increase with DDGS supplementation. A hay type × DDGS interaction was observed (P ≤ 0.05) on ruminal effective degradable fractions. The rate of degradation, soluble fraction, and the potentially degradable fraction of organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber (ADF) increased (P ≤ 0.05), while the undegradable fraction of all components decreased (P ≤ 0.01) when steers were offered TEFF compared to OWB. Ruminal DM, OM, and ADF degradation lag-time increased (P ≤ 0.02) in steers offered OWB. Ruminal degradation kinetics were not (P ≥ 0.17) independently affected by DDGS supplementation. Average ruminal pH of steers offered TEFF (P < 0.01) and those offered DDGS (P < 0.01) were lower than OWB and non-supplemented steers. Total concentration of VFA tended (P = 0.09) to increase when DDGS was provided with OWB, while decreasing when TEFF was offered. The acetate:propionate increased (P < 0.01) with DDGS supplementation due to a decrease (P = 0.03) in propionate. Ruminal NH3-N was greater (P = 0.03) in steers offered TEFF compared to OWB, and those supplemented with DDGS (P = 0.03). An annual, in place of a conventional, perennial hay improved intake and digestion of nutrients, without affecting feeding behavior. The supplementation with DDGS appears to affect forage intake, ruminal degradation, and feeding behavior, although not independent of forage quality.

Supplementation with different protein profiles for grazing beef cattle supplemented in tropical grass during the rainy-dry transition season

The objective of this study was to evaluate increasing levels of inclusion of dry distillery grains (DDGs) in substitution of corn and urea in multiple supplements for beef cattle of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu on the consumption, digestibility, and efficiency of microbial synthesis and use of nitrogen. We used four Nellore bulls cannulated in the rumen with an average age of 24 months and 445.12 ± 34.4 kg of body weight (BW), in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Supplements differed by the inclusion level of DDG (0%, 31.5%, 63.0%, and 94.5%). Increasing levels of DDG inclusion decreased dry matter intake (DMI) (P = 0.002), forage (P = 0.002), organic matter (OM) (P = 0.001), crude protein (CP) (P = 0.037), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) (P < 0.001) and had a quadratic effect on the intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) (P = 0.002). It was observed an increase in the digestibility of ether extract (EE) (P = 0.005), however a decrease in the digestibility of NFC (P = 0.001). Inclusion of DDG did not influence ruminal pH. There was a quadratic effect at collection times for ruminal ammoniacal nitrogen (P < 0.05), except for the supplement with 94.5% DDG where the effect was linear (P = 0.002). Nitrogen intake was 10.9% higher when there was no DDG in the supplement, compared with the supplement with 94.5% DDG (P = 0.039). The excretion of N by feces was greater when there was a greater amount of DDG in the supplement (P = 0.027), the opposite occurred with urine excretion of N, being higher when there was less amount of DDG in the supplement (P = 0.027). Increasing levels of DDG did not affect ruminal microbial protein yield (P > 0.05). Replacing corn and urea with up to 94.5% DDGs in multiple supplements resulted in no adverse effect efficiency of microbial synthesis, although nutrient intake, total digestible nutrients, and use of nitrogen were reduced at 94.5% DDG inclusion.

Effect of increased inclusion of dried distillers grain supplement on adaptation, intake, digestibility, and rumen parameters in steers consuming bermudagrass round bale silage

Eight ruminally cannulated beef steers were used to evaluate forage intake and physiological response during adaptation to a diet consisting of bermudagrass round bale silage (RBS) and dried distillers grains (DDG) and in a second experiment the effect of level of DDG supplementation on RBS forage intake, digestibility, and rumen parameters. The adaptation experiment was designed to simulate a 14-d step-up process. Initially steers received ad libitum RBS, on d 4 steers were offered 1.13 kg of DDG daily and every 4 d daily DDG offered was increased by 1.13 kg. Blood and rumen fluid samples were collected before feeding (0 h) and 6, 12, 24 (before feeding), and 36 h after every diet change. The digestibility experiment was conducted as an 8 × 4 Latin square with four periods. Treatments included RBS only and DDG supplement levels of 0.33%, 0.66%, and 1.0% of body weight (RBS + 0.33, +0.66, and 1.0, respectively). Collection periods consisted of 21 d to determine dry matter intake [DMI], digestibility, and collect rumen fluid samples. During adaptation, level of DDG did not (P = 0.42) affect RBS DMI. Mean ruminal pH was greater (P < 0.05) for RBS only compared with diets with DDG. When steers were offered 3.39 or 4.52 kg/d of DDG rumen NH₃-N concentration was greater (P ≤ 0.05) compared with other levels of DDG or RBS alone. Mean nonesterified fatty acid and plasma urea N concentrations varied among levels of DDG offered. In the digestibility experiment forage DMI, total DMI, and total tract apparent digestibility exhibited a quadratic (P ≤ 0.05) response to level of DDG offered. Mean ruminal pH responded in a quadratic manner (P = 0.03) and was greater for RBS only compared with RBS plus DDG at any level. Mean ruminal NH₃-N concentration tended (P = 0.07) to respond in a cubic manner as DDG amount offered increased. Physiological responses during adaptation to DDG over 14 d resembled responses previously observed after long-term DDG supplementation. Offering DDG up to 1% of body weight did depress forage DMI and ruminal pH but increased total DMI, diet digestibility, and ruminal NH₃-N concentration.

Effects of alternate day feeding of dried distiller's grains plus solubles in forage-fed steers on intake, ruminal fermentation and passage rates, and serum nonesterified fatty acid

Four ruminally and duodenally cannulated Holstein steers (BW = 449 ± 7.3 kg) were used to examine the effects of feeding either dried distiller's grains plus solubles (DG) or grass hay on alternate days (every other day) on intake, ruminal fermentation and passage rates, and serum NEFA in forage-fed steers. Steers were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments in a 4 × 4 Latin square: 1) only hay (CON), 2) hay and 0.4% of BW as DG DM daily (DG7), 3) hay daily and 0.8% BW DG every other day (DG2), and 4) alternate day feeding of hay and 0.8% of BW as DG (DGA). Treatment periods consisted of 13 d of adaptation and 8 d of collecting digesta and blood. Over the entire collection period, DMI was decreased ( = 0.004) for DGA compared with other treatments (13.0 ± 0.8, 12.7 ± 0.8, 13.3 ± 0.8, and 10.9 ± 0.8 kg/d for CON, DG7, DG2, and DGA, respectively). Immediately after feeding on days supplement was fed to DG2 and DGA (supplemented days [SUP]), ruminal pH of DGA was less than other treatments but by the end of the day was greater than other treatments (treatment × time, < 0.001). At feeding time on nonsupplemented days (NSUP), ruminal pH of DGA steers was greater than other treatments but was similar (treatment × time, < 0.001) to DG2 and CON by 5 h after feeding. Total concentrations of VFA were similar ( = 0.09) among treatments on SUP; however, on NSUP, total VFA concentrations were least in DGA from feeding until 4 h after feeding (treatment × time, = 0.02). No differences ( ≥ 0.06) were observed among treatments for apparent ruminal, total intestinal, and total tract DM, OM, or CP digestibility. There were no differences ( = 0.36) in serum NEFA among treatments on SUP; however, on NSUP, steers fed DGA (209.5 ± 12.7 m) had greater ( < 0.01) NEFA compared with other treatments (84.4 ± 12.7, 88.0 ± 12.7, and 77.7 ± 12.7 m for CON, DG7, and DG2, respectively). The DGA feeding strategy influenced DMI and ruminal kinetics and circulating NEFA without impacting total tract digestibility.

Effect of Supplemental Corn Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles Fed to Beef Steers Grazing Native Rangeland during the Forage Dormant Season

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of the level of corn dry distillers grains with solubles (CDDGS) supplementation on growing performance, blood metabolites, digestion characteristics and ruminal fermentation patterns in steers grazing dormant forage. In Exp. 1, of growth performance, 120 steers (204±5 kg initial body weight [BW]) were distributed randomly into 3 groups (each of 40 steers), which were provided with the following levels of CDDGS supplement: 0%, 0.25%, or 0.50% BW. All groups of steers were grazed for 30 days in each of 3 grazing periods (March, April, and May). Approximately 1,000 ha of the land was divided with electric fencing into 3 equally sized pastures (333 ha in size). Blood samples were collected monthly from 20 steers in each grazing group for analysis of glucose (G), urea-nitrogen (UN) and non-esterified fatty acids. Final BW, average daily gain (ADG) and supplement conversion (CDDGS-C) increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p<0.05).The CDDGS supplementation also increased the plasma G and UN concentrations (p<0.05). In Exp. 2, of digestive metabolism, 9 ruminally cannulated steers (BW = 350±3 kg) were distributed, following a completely randomized design, into groups of three in each pasture. The ruminally cannulated steers were provided the same levels of CDDGS supplementation as in the growing performance study (0%, 0.25%, and 0.50% BW), and they grazed along with the other 40 steers throughout the grazing periods. The dry matter intake, crude protein intake, neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI), apparent digestibility of dry matter (ADDM), crude protein (ADCP) and neutral detergent fiber (ADNDF) increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p<0.05). The ruminal degradation rates of CP (kdCP), NDF (kdNDF) and passage rate (kp) also increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p<0.05). Ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) and propionate concentrations also increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p<0.05). However, acetate concentrations decreased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation (p<0.05). Liquid dilution rate increased with increasing levels of CDDGS supplementation but ruminal liquid volume decreased (p<0.05). On the basis of these findings, we can conclude that CDDGS supplementation enhanced the productive performance of cattle grazing native rangeland without negatively affecting forage intake, glucose and urea-nitrogen blood concentrations, ruminal degradation and ruminal fermentation patterns.

Effects of Replacing Dry-rolled Corn with Increasing Levels of Corn Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles on Characteristics of Digestion, Microbial Protein Synthesis and Digestible Energy of Diet in Hair Lambs Fed High-concentrate Diets

Four male lambs (Katahdin; average live weight 25.9±2.9 kg) with “T” type cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a 4×4 Latin square experiment to evaluate the influence of supplemental dry distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%, dry matter basis) in substitution for dry-rolled (DR) corn on characteristics of digestive function and digestible energy (DE) of diet. Treatments did not influence ruminal pH. Substitution of DR corn with DDGS increased ruminal neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestion (quadratic effect, p<0.01), but decreased ruminal organic matter (OM) digestion (linear effect, p<0.01). Replacing corn with DDGS increased (linear, p≤0.02) duodenal flow of lipids, NDF and feed N. But there were no treatment effects on flow to the small intestine of microbial nitrogen (MN) or microbial N efficiency. The estimated UIP value of DDGS was 44%. Postruminal digestion of OM, starch, lipids and nitrogen (N) were not affected by treatments. Total tract digestion of N increased (linear, p = 0.04) as the DDGS level increased, but DDGS substitution tended to decrease total tract digestion of OM (p = 0.06) and digestion of gross energy (p = 0.08). However, it did not affect the dietary digestible energy (DE, MJ/kg), reflecting the greater gross energy content of DDGS versus DR corn in the replacements. The comparative DE value of DDGS may be considered similar to the DE value of the DR corn it replaced up to 30% in the finishing diets fed to lambs.

Invited Review: Ethanol co-products for dairy cows: there goes our starch … now what?

Paz, H. A., Castillo-Lopez, E., Ramirez-Ramirez, H. A., Christensen, D. A., Klopfenstein, T. J. and Kononoff, P. J. 2013. Invited Review: Ethanol co-products for dairy cows: there goes our starch … now what? Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 407–425. The rise of the grain-ethanol industry has resulted in a dramatic increase in the availability of feed co-products namely, distillers’ grains with solubles (DG). The cost of feeds that have traditionally been used for energy continues to increase and there is a need to understand the potential impact of replacing these feeds with DG on milk yield and composition. Using the Dairy National Research Council (2001) model and data from a total of 25 published studies (81 observations), we used a meta-analytical procedure to evaluate the impact of feeding corn milling co-products on lactating dairy cows. Based on our model, the inclusion of DG did not affect dry matter intake (P=0.35) but a trend for an increase in milk yield was observed (P=0. 10). Additionally, the percentages of milk fat and protein in the milk were not affected (P=0.24 and 0.25, respectively). The modeled daily rumen outflow of Lys in grams was significantly (P<0.01) reduced and Met was not affected (P=0.79) when DG were included. The error associated with net energy of lactation allowable milk averaged 5.0±1.0 kg d−1and was not affected by DG (P=0.79) but the error associated with metabolizable protein allowable milk tended (P=0.10) to be higher for cows consuming DG by 1.4±1.2 kg d−1.

Effects of increasing amounts of corn dried distillers grains with solubles in dairy cow diets on methane production, ruminal fermentation, digestion, N balance, and milk production

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of including corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) in the diet at the expense of corn and soybean meal on enteric CH4 emissions, ruminal fermentation characteristics, digestion (in sacco and apparent total-tract digestibility), N balance, and milk production of dairy cows. Twelve lactating Holstein cows were used in a triplicated 4×4 Latin square design (35-d periods) and fed (ad libitum intake) a total mixed ration containing (dry matter basis) 0, 10, 20, or 30% DDGS. Dry matter intake increased linearly, whereas apparent-total tract digestibility of dry matter and gross energy declined linearly as DDGS level in the diet increased. Increasing the proportion of DDGS in the diet decreased the acetate:propionate ratio, but this decrease was the result of reduced acetate concentration rather than increased propionate concentration. Milk yield increased linearly (up to +4kg/d) with increasing levels of DDGS in the diet and a tendency was observed for a quadratic increase in energy-corrected milk as the proportion of DDGS in the diet increased. Methane production decreased linearly with increasing levels of DDGS in the diet (495, 490, 477, and 475 g/d for 0, 10, 20, and 30% DDGS diets, respectively). When adjusted for gross energy intake, CH4 losses also decreased linearly as DDGS proportion increased in the diet by 5, 8, and 14% for 10, 20, and 30% DDGS diets, respectively. Similar decreases (up to 12% at 30% DDGS) were also observed when CH4 production was corrected for digestible energy intake. When expressed relative to energy-corrected milk, CH4 production declined linearly as the amount of DDGS increased in the diet. Total N excretion (urinary and fecal; g/d) increased as the amount of DDGS in the diet increased. Efficiency of N utilization (milk N secretion as a proportion of N intake) declined linearly with increasing inclusion of DDGS in the diet. However, productive N increased linearly with increasing proportions of DDGS in the diet, suggesting better efficiency of N use by the animal. Results from this study show that feeding DDGS to dairy cows can help to mitigate enteric CH4 emissions without negatively affecting intake and milk production.