Effect of dietary inclusion of wet or modified distillers grains plus solubles on performance of finishing cattle1

Two experiments evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of corn wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) or partially dried modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) on finishing cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Experiment 1 used 288 steers (BW = 351 ± 11 kg). Cattle were weighed, stratified within block, and assigned randomly to pens (8 steers/pen; 6 pens/treatment) to evaluate 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% (DM basis) dietary inclusion of WDGS replacing a blend of high-moisture and dry-rolled corn. Experiment 2 used 288 steers (BW = 332 ± 17 kg) to evaluate the effects of MDGS inclusion with similar methodology as Exp. 1. In Exp. 1, quadratic responses (P < 0.01) were observed for DMI, final BW, ADG, and G:F as WDGS inclusion increased. The greatest G:F was observed at 40% WDGS inclusion. Results indicated a decrease in feeding value from 178 to 121% the value of corn as WDGS inclusion increased from 10 to 50% of diet DM. In Exp. 2, feeding MDGS up to 50% of diet DM resulted in improved performance relative to corn-fed cattle. Quadratic responses (P < 0.01) were observed for final BW, ADG, and DMI as MDGS dietary inclusion increased from 0 to 50%. A linear increase (P < 0.01) was observed for G:F as MDGS inclusion increased. The feeding value of MDGS was 125 to 111% the value of corn and decreased as dietary inclusion of MDGS increased. These data demonstrate feedlot cattle performance improvement when WDGS or MDGS replace corn.