Effects of Proportions of Wet Corn Gluten Feed and Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles in Steam-Flaked, Corn-Based Diets on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Feedlot Cattle1

Abstract

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2> Two hundred crossbred steers (initial BW=388; SE=7.9 kg) were fed 5 diets to evaluate the effect of the proportion of wet corn gluten feed (WCG), distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), or both in diets based on steam-flaked corn on performance and carcass characteristics. Dietary treatments reflected ingredients available for use in feedlot diets in the Southern Great Plains region and consisted of the following (DM basis): 1) a steam-flaked, corn-based, high-concentrate diet with no WCG or DDGS (CON); 2) a diet with 7% DDGS; 3) a diet with 20% WCG; 4) a diet with 13% WCG and 7% DDGS; and 5) a diet with 20% WCG and 7% DDGS. Steers were weighed individually and sorted to 1 of 25 pens (8 steers/pen in 5 blocks with 5 pens/block). Final BW and carcass-adjusted (to a constant dressing percent) final BW tended to be greater (P = 0.07) for the average of all 4 WCG and DDGS treatments than for CON, but no differences were noted among the 4 WCG and DDGS treatments (P > 0.10). Average daily gain was greater by steers in the 4 WCG and DDGS treatments than by steers fed the CON treatment from d 0 to 84 (P = 0.01) and overall (P = 0.04), and there was a tendency (P = 0.08) for greater ADG by steers in the 4 WCG and DDGS treatments from d 0 to 42. Carcass-adjusted ADG also was greater (P = 0.04) for the average of the 4 WCG and DDGS treatments than for CON but not different among the 4 WCG and DDGS treatments. Dry matter intake was less by cattle fed the CON diet than by the cattle in the other treatments from d 0 to 42 (P = 0.03), d 0 to 84 (P = 0.02), and for the overall study period (P = 0.02). The G:F ratio did not differ among CON and the WCG and DDGS treatments (P > 0.10). Hot carcass weight tended to be less (P = 0.07) for cattle fed the CON diet than for cattle fed the other diets, but no differences were observed between the CON and the WCDG and DDGS treatments for other carcass characteristics. Percentage of cattle grading USDA Choice or greater was not affected by dietary treatment. Data suggest that up to 20% WCG and 7% DDGS can be effectively used in feedlot cattle steam-flaked, corn-based diets alone or in combination.