Nutritional value of wet corn gluten feed for sheep and lactating dairy cows

Response of lactating dairy cows to diets containing wet corn gluten feed or a raw soybean hull-corn steep liquor pellet

We evaluated effects of wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) and a novel product (SHSL) containing raw soybean hulls and corn steep liquor on performance and digestion in lactating dairy cows. In Experiment 1, 46 multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to control (C), WCGF (20% of diet DM), or SHSL (20% of diet DM). Diets were fed as a total mixed ration beginning after calving. The C diet contained (dry matter [DM] basis) 30% alfalfa hay, 15% corn silage, 32% corn, 9.3% whole cottonseed, 4.4% solvent soybean meal (SBM), and 3.3% expeller SBM. The WCGF replaced 10% alfalfa hay, 5% corn silage, and 5% corn grain, while expeller SBM replaced solvent SBM to maintain diet rumen undegradable protein. The SHSL replaced 10% alfalfa hay, 5% corn silage, 3% solvent SBM, and 2% corn. Dietary crude protein averaged 18.4%. Milk, energy-corrected milk (ECM), DM intake (DMI), and ECM/DMI were similar among diets during the first 13 wk of lactation. During wk 14 through 30 postpartum, WCGF and SHSL improved milk, ECM, milk component yield, and ECM/DMI. In Experiment 2, 6 cows were used to evaluate digestibility and rumen traits. Dry matter intake and total tract digestibilities of DM, fiber, and crude protein were not different among diets. Diets did not affect ruminal liquid dilution rate, pH, or concentrations of total volatile fatty acids or ammonia, but acetate:propionate was higher for C (3.38) than for WCGF (2.79) or SHSL (2.89). The WCGF and SHSL products can serve as alternative feedstuffs in diets fed to lactating dairy cattle.

Optimizing the level of wet corn gluten feed in the diet of lactating dairy cows

Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows averaging 566 +/- 43 kg of body weight and 83 +/- 49 d in lactation were assigned to treatments stratified by age, days in milk, and milk yield to evaluate the effects of feeding increasing levels of wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) on lactational performance and milk composition. Complete diets containing 0, 15, 30, or 45% of the total ration dry matter (DM) as WCGF were formulated to be 17.2% crude protein and 1.72 Mcal of NE(L) per kilogram of DM, and fed twice daily to individual cows in Calan gates for 15 wk. All diets had a positive metabolizable protein balance. WCGF did not alter DM intake, but feed intake variance tended to be more consistent among cows fed 15 and 30% WCGF (DM basis). Weight gain was numerically greatest for those cows receiving 45% WCGF. Efficiency of energy and protein utilization was not different among treatments. Milk components of fat, protein, and casein were not different among treatments. Milk urea nitrogen was greater for cows on WCGF. Serum urea nitrogen was greatest in cows fed diets containing 15 and 45% WCGF. Serum insulin was lowest in the groups receiving 30 and 45% WCGF, but serum glucose and total protein were unaffected. The concentration of the ruminal volatile fatty acid, valerate, was greater in cows on the WCGF diet and highest in cows fed 30% WCGF. Ruminal ammonia was greatest in cows receiving 30% WCGF. It was estimated that 18.6% of the dietary DM fed as WCGF as a replacement for both portions of the concentrate and the forage in similar diets would have maximized milk yield without negatively affecting milk composition or feed efficiency.

Maximal replacement of forage and concentrate with a new wet corn milling product for lactating dairy cows

Three experiments were conducted to determine the maximal amount of concentrate and forage that could be replaced with a new wet corn milling product. The corn milling product contained 23.1% crude protein, 9.9% ruminally undegradable protein, 13.7% acid detergent fiber, 40.3% neutral detergent fiber, and 2.6% ether extract (% of dry matter; DM). In experiment 1, 16 Holstein cows were assigned to one of four diets in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods. The four diets contained 54.3% forage (alfalfa:corn silages, 1:1 DM basis) with the wet corn milling product replacing 0, 50, 75, or 100% of the concentrate portion (corn and soybean meal) of the diet (DM basis). The diets containing wet corn milling product resulted in 7.8% lower DM intake, equivalent milk production (28.5 kg/d), and 13.6% greater efficiency of 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) production than the control diet. There was no effect of diet on ruminal pH. In experiment 2, 16 Holstein cows were assigned to one of four diets in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods. The 100% concentrate replacement diet from experiment 1 was used as control diet. For the test diets, forage was replaced with 15, 30, or 45% of the corn milling product (DM basis). Efficiency of FCM production (1.16) was not affected by diet. Rumination time was reduced for the 30 and 45% forage replacement diets, but ruminal pH was unaffected. In experiment 3, 30 Holstein cows were assigned at parturition to either a control diet (no corn milling product) or a diet containing 40% corn milling feed in place of both forage and concentrate (optimal levels from experiments 1 and 2) for 9 wk. The diet containing corn milling feed resulted in 21% greater efficiency of FCM production than the control diet. These results indicate that a new feed product based on wet corn milling ingredients has the potential to effectively replace all of the concentrate and up to 45% of the forage in the diet for lactating dairy cows.

Effect of fibrous by-products on production and ruminal fermentation in lactating dairy cows

Lactating dairy cows were used in experiments to determine the effects of feeding a combination of fibrous by-products to replace a portion of alfalfa hay or grain. Cows were fed a control diet, consisting of alfalfa hay, corn, soybean meal, and corn silage or one of four treatment diets. In these diets, a combination of soy hulls, corn gluten feed, and wheat midds replaced approximately 30 or 60% of alfalfa hay or 25 or 50% of corn and soybean meal. A 56-d production study used 50 midlactation dairy cows in a randomized complete block design. No differences in milk production or composition among treatments were measured, except for the diet in which 60% of the alfalfa hay was replaced with fibrous by-products. Cows fed this diet had a significantly lower percentage of milk fat compared with other treatments. A fermentation study used five fistulated, multiparous lactating dairy cows in a 5 x 5 Latin square design. Cows were fed one of the five experimental diets used in the production study during five consecutive 14-d periods. Rumen acetate to propionate ratio was highest for the control and 50% concentrate replacement diets (3.27) and lowest for the 60% hay replacement diet (2.78). This shift in ruminal volatile fatty acid profile corresponded to the change in milk fat percentage, measured during the production study. A mixture of fibrous by-products fed as an alternative to hay or grain ingredients could potentially decrease feed costs without a resultant decrease in milk production by mid-lactation dairy cows.

Effects of source of carbohydrate and protein and rumen-protected methionine on performance of cows

Multiparous Holstein cows were fed diets consisting of alfalfa silage, corn silage, and a concentrate mixture containing primarily ground shelled corn or corn gluten feed; the diets were supplemented with 0 or 20 g/d of rumen-protected Met. The 183-d experimental period followed a 21-d covariate period beginning at calving. Data from early lactation (d 22 to 105) and the entire experiment were analyzed. Yields of milk and milk crude protein were not affected by treatment. Corn gluten feed increased the percentages of milk fat and total solids. The rumen-protected Met tended to increase both the crude protein and casein N content of milk. Body weight, milk fat percentage, and yields of milk fat, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, and total solids were greater when ground shelled corn and 20 g/d of rumen-protected Met or corn gluten feed and 0 g/d of rumen-protected Met were fed than when ground shelled corn and 0 g/d of rumen-protected Met or corn gluten feed and 20 g/d of rumen-protected Met were fed. A similar interaction for dry matter intake was significant only during d 22 to 204. Corn gluten feed increased plasma concentrations of His, Ile, Leu, and Val. Rumen-protected Met increased plasma concentrations of Met, decreased His, and tended to decrease Arg, Lys, and Orn. These data suggest that the dietary source of carbohydrate and protein can modulate the response of cows to rumen-protected Met.

Quantity and economic importance of nine selected by-products used in California dairy rations

Food processing representatives, brokers, nutritionists, livestock producers, and trade associations were surveyed to quantify 9 by-products used for feeding livestock during 1992 in California. The commodities were almond hulls, dried beet pulp, wet brewers grains, wet citrus pulp, pressed citrus pulp, wet corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal, whole cottonseed, and rice bran. The 9 by-products contributed over 2.5 million tonnes and about 27% of the total feed concentrate moved within California during 1992. Market value of these 9 by-products was almost .25 billion dollars. Whole cottonseed accounted for about 31% of the total tonnage of these 9 by-products and provided about 66% of the total CP and 53% of the total NEL of these 9 by-products. The by-products were more valuable as energy sources than CP sources compared with NEL from corn and CP from soybean meal, respectively. Calculations of milk production, based on the CP content or NEL content of the by-products, showed that these 9 by-products could have contributed sufficient CP or NEL for over 31% of the milk produced in California during 1992. Ration formulations demonstrated that the economic value of by-products changed with feedstuffs available and, in general, would be used in rations over a range of market prices.

Effect of wet or dry corn gluten feed on nutrient digestibility and milk yield and composition

A 22-wk trial was conducted to determine variations in nutrient concentrations of wet and dry corn gluten feed and their effect on nutrient digestibility and milk yield and composition. Holstein cows (n = 48) were blocked at parturition by parity and assigned randomly within block to one of three diets. All cows were fed a control TMR containing corn silage, ground corn, and commercial concentrate plus 2.3 kg/d of alfalfa hay during the 2-wk adjustment period. Thereafter, control diet was fed as wet or dry corn gluten feed substituted for 27% of dietary DM supplied by the control diet. Each cow received TMR for ad libitum consumption. Variations in nutrient concentrations of corn gluten feed were observed throughout the trial. The coefficient of variation was highest for ADIN, and standard deviation was highest for NDF. Intake of CP and NDF and apparent digestibility of DM were greatest when wet or dry corn gluten feed was fed. No differences in DMI, milk yield, and percentages of milk protein, lactose, or SNF were observed, but milk fat percentage was lowest when dry corn gluten feed was fed. Results indicate that corn gluten feed can replace 27% of dietary DM without altering milk yield, but new deliveries should be sampled regularly and amounts fed adjusted to compensate for varying nutrient concentrations.

Effect of high fiber energy supplements on nutrient digestibility and milk production of lactating dairy cows

Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows past peak lactation were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design replicated four times to determine the production response and digestibility of diets containing high fiber energy supplements. Corn gluten feed, soybean hulls, or wheat middlings were substituted for a portion of corn, soybean meal, and corn silage in the control diet to provide 22% of the total dietary DM. Intake of DM was decreased when cows consumed wheat middlings compared with control and soybean hulls. Actual milk and SCM yields and milk fat percentage were not different among treatments. Milk protein percentage was greater when cows consumed corn gluten feed compared with soybean hulls. Apparent digestibility of DM was greater when cows consumed soybean hulls compared with wheat middlings. Intake and apparent digestibility of ADF and NDF were greater when cows consumed soybean hulls. Cows consuming wheat middlings had intermediate intake and decreased apparent digestibility of NDF compared with controls. Intake and apparent digestibility of NDF were not different when cows received corn gluten feed compared with control or wheat middlings. High fiber energy supplements supported milk production equally; however, differences in DM and nutrient intake, milk composition, and nutrient apparent digestibility were significant.