The Evaluation of a Vacuum Storage Method for High Moisture Distillers Grain and Its Effect as a Protein and Energy Supplement for Beef Cows

The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate a vacuum ensiling method for storing high moisture distillers grains with solubles (DG) and 2) determine the efficacy of vacuum stored DG as a substitute for shelled corn (SC) and soybean meal (SBM) in corn silage diets. Fresh DG were covered with plastic in 2 rows containing 49 or 63.6 metric tons. Perforated tubes laid on each side of each DG row and connected to vacuum pumps were operated for 2 to 5 min 3 times/d. Over 78 d of storage, VFA concentration decreased (P < 0.05) 97.8, 66.7, and 60.0% for acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, respectively, and decreased 95.0% for lactic acid. Bag 1 was opened at 78 d post-sealing and fed for 112 d. Bag 2 was opened on d 190 post-sealing and fed for 67 d. Eighty third-trimester, multiparous beef cows were assigned to 10 pens. Control cows (CNTL) were fed corn silage-SC-SBM based diets. In treatment cow (TRT) diets, DG replaced SC and SBM. Mean ADFI was 22.2 kg for CNTL and 22.7 kg for TRT. High moisture DG represented 21.9% of DMI for TRT cows and SC + SBM represented 25.3% of DMI for CNTL cows. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed in cow BW, BCS changes, conception rates, estimated milk production, calf creep feed intake, and 205-d calf BW. Results suggest that feeding diets containing DG stored for up to 260 d using a vacuum preservation method can result in similar beef cow performance compared with cows fed CNTL diet.