Evaluation of a prefermentation-fractionated by-product corn grain dry milling ethanol process in growing and finishing cattle diets1

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate feeding a new by-product feed containing bran and solubles from a prefermentation-fractionated dry milling process, Dakota Bran (DBRAN), and compare this to feeding dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS). In the growing experiment, 256 crossbred steer-calves (BW = 281 ± 23.2 kg) were fed 4 diets designed as a 2 × 2 factorial with factors of level (15 or 30%) and type (dried and pelleted DBRAN or DDGS fed as a meal) in which by-products replaced a 70:30 blend (DM basis) of bromegrass hay and alfalfa haylage. No significant interactions (P ≥ 0.33) were observed for cattle performance between by-product level and type. Ending BW, ADG, DMI, and G:F increased (P < 0.01) as by-product inclusion increased from 15 to 30% DM. Feeding DDGS improved ADG and G:F (P ≤ 0.05) compared with feeding DBRAN. In the finishing experiment, 300 crossbred yearling steers (BW = 379 ± 20.0 kg) were fed diets containing 0, 15, 30, or 45% wet DBRAN, or 30% DDGS, in which by-products replaced dry-rolled and high-moisture corn (1:1 blend, DM basis). Final BW, ADG, G:F, and HCW improved linearly (P < 0.01), while calculated energy values tended to increase linearly (P = 0.14) as dietary inclusion of DBRAN increased. At 30% of diet DM, feeding DBRAN resulted in similar performance and calculated energy values to feeding DDGS. Including DBRAN in growing and finishing diets improved cattle performance; however, performance from feeding DBRAN was similar to slightly less than performance from feeding DDGS. The feeding value of DBRAN was similar in growing diets and slightly better in finishing diets than that of corn.