Effects of Adding MIN-AD to Steam-Flaked Corn-Based Diets With or Without Wet Corn Distillers Grain Plus Solubles on Performance by Beef Cattle During Receiving and Finishing Phases

Effects of wet corn distillers grain (WCDG) and MIN-AD (MIN-AD Inc., Amarillo, TX), a commercial source of calcium-magnesium carbonate, on cattle performance and carcass measurements were evaluated in a 42-d receiving phase (220 steers; initial BW = 279.3 kg) and a subsequent finishing phase (192 steers). Both phases were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial using steam-flaked corn-based diets. Factors were MIN-AD (0 or 0.75% of dietary DM) and WCDG (0 or 15% of dietary DM). Few MIN-AD × WCDG interactions were detected in either phase. Neither MIN-AD nor WCDG affected ADG, DMI, G:F, or 42-d BW (P > 0.129) during the receiving period. Compared with control steers, cattle fed WCDG in the finishing phase had greater (P < 0.01) ADG, DMI, final BW, and hot carcass weight (HCW). Fecal pH of cattle fed 15% WCDG was less than that of control steers (P < 0.05). Feeding WCDG had no effect (P ≥ 0.19) on dressing percentage, LM area, 12th-rib fat, KPH, YG, marbling score, QG, or incidence of liver abscesses. Supplementing diets with MIN-AD increased LM area (P = 0.031), but ADG, DMI, G:F, final BW, HCW, dressing percentage, 12th-rib fat, KPH percentage, YG, marbling score, QG, and incidence of liver abscesses were not affected (P ≥ 0.063) by MIN-AD. Results suggest that feeding 15% WCDG in a steam-flaked corn-based diet did not affect cattle performance during the receiving period, but it increased DMI, ADG, final BW, and HCW during the finishing period. Supplementing MIN-AD in combination with WCDG did not affect performance.