Investigating the Effects of Distillers Grains on Heifer Feeding Behavior in the Finishing Phase.

Kaylie A Huizenga,Joshua C Mccann

doi:10.3390/ani11071905

Abstract

Simple SummaryDried distillers grains (DDG), a corn by-product of the ethanol industry, are a common feedstuff in cattle diets. Distillers can be used in diets as an effective source of protein and can reduce risk of acidosis by reducing the highly fermentable carbohydrate of starch. However, the price and availability of distillers grains are variable based on droughts, energy prices, and other factors. When inclusion of distillers grains in diets becomes uneconomical or is not possible, diets may decrease in crude protein and increase in starch-altering rumen fermentation parameters and feeding behavior. The effect of distillers grains on cattle growth performance and carcass traits has been studied extensively, but little is known about how distillers inclusion affects feeding behavior. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of low inclusion levels of DDG on feeding behavior in heifers consuming a high-moisture corn-based diet in the finishing phase. This study demonstrated that low inclusion levels of distillers grains has little effect on growth performance, but can alter feeding behavior and reduce variability in feeding behavior traits.The objective was to determine the effect of low inclusion levels of dried distillers grains (DDG) on feeding behavior in heifers consuming a high-moisture corn-based diet in the finishing phase. Simmental × Angus heifers (N = 90; 323 ± 50 kg) were fed for 180 d. Heifers were blocked by initial body weight (BW) into two groups, stratified by sire, and assigned to 15 pens with six heifers each. Pens were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: 0% DDG inclusion (0DG), 7% DDG inclusion (7DG), or 14% DDG inclusion (14DG). Treatments did not affect (p > 0.59) BW, average daily gain, and gain:feed. Although there was a treatment × time effect (p = 0.05) for dry matter intake (DMI), with 0DG having greater DMI during the last 70 d, no differences in overall DMI were detected. Treatment affected (p < 0.01) bunk visit duration and head down duration, with 7DG and 14DG having less minutes per day. Bunk visit frequency (p = 0.02) was less variable for heifers fed 14DG and DMI tended (p = 0.08) to be less variable for both distillers treatments. While dietary inclusion of DDG has minimal effects on overall heifer performance, low levels of DDG inclusion can affect feeding behavior and intake variation.

Highlights

Corn is the primary feedstock used to produce ethanol in North America through the dry milling process, which results in a coproduct known as dried distillers grains (DDG).During the distilling process, starch is removed from corn through yeast fermentation, resulting in a coproduct that is more concentrated in fat, fiber, and protein levels [1]
Starch is removed from corn through yeast fermentation, resulting in a coproduct that is more concentrated in fat, fiber, and protein levels [1]
Cattle are being fed to heavier weights [4] with more days on feed compared with the last time diets with little to no DDG were fed in the 1990s [1]

Summary

Introduction

Corn is the primary feedstock used to produce ethanol in North America through the dry milling process, which results in a coproduct known as dried distillers grains (DDG). Starch is removed from corn through yeast fermentation, resulting in a coproduct that is more concentrated in fat, fiber, and protein levels [1]. A common feedstuff in cattle diets, have been used as an effective protein source, while reducing acidosis by reducing the highly fermentable carbohydrate of starch. Without cost-effective protein sources such as DDG, protein levels in diets can be reduced to less than 12.5%. Decreased DDG typically translates to greater corn inclusions, which increases dietary starch and acidosis risk. Starch inclusion levels can affect rumen function, digestibility, and, overall, change feeding behavior [5]. The long-term effects distillers have on feeding behavior and variation in intake are yet to be evaluated

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