Effects of replacing ground corn with wet brewers grains on growth performance and concentrations of liver trace minerals and plasma fatty acids of preconditioning beef heifers fed medium-quality fescue hay

Our goal was to evaluate growth performance and concentrations of liver trace minerals and plasma fatty acids of beef heifers supplemented with wet brewers grains (WBG) replacing ground corn (CN). On d 0, 27 Angus beef heifers (218 ± 3 kg; 225 ± 23 d of age) were randomly assigned into 1 of 9 drylot pens (3 heifers per pen). Treatments were randomly assigned to pens (3 pens per treatment) and consisted of heifers receiving a 42-d period of daily supple- mentation 'with 100% CN, 100% WBG, or a 50:50 mixture of CN and WBG (CNWBG). Supplements provided equal daily supplemental TDN (0.7% of BW). Average daily gain from d 0 to 42 was similar (P = 0.65) between CNWBG and WBG, and tended (P ≤ 0.08) to be least for CN. Hay and total DMI were less (P ≤ 0.05) for heifers fed WBG versus CN and CNWBG supplements in 3 of 6 wk. Thus, G:F was similar (P = 0.63) between CNWBG and WBG but least (P ≤ 0.004) for CN heifers. Intake of S, Cu, Se, and Zn increased (P ≤ 0.05) as WBG replaced corn. Yet, liver concentrations of trace minerals did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.16). Intake of supplemental fat and total fat increased (P ≤ 0.02) as WBG replaced corn. Plasma 18:1 trans-11 and 18:1 cis-9 concentrations were less for WBG versus CN and CNWNG heifers (P ≤ 0.04). Therefore, replacing ground corn with WBG enhanced growth performance but not concentrations of plasma fatty acids and liver trace mineral in beef heifers.