Dry Corn Gluten Feed Research Articles

Intestinal supply of amino acids in steers fed ruminally degradable and undegradable crude protein sources alone and in combination2

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of combining ruminally degradable and undegradable CP sources on ruminal microbial protein synthesis and postruminal N and amino acid (AA) flows in steers. Six steers fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were fed diets containing corn silage and high-moisture corn supplemented with urea, soybean meal (SBM), dry corn gluten feed (DCGF), a combination of corn gluten meal and blood meal (CB), or SBM and DCGF in combination with CB. Estimated ruminal N escapes for SBM, DCGF, and CB were 32, 25, and 68%, respectively. Supplemental CP sources supplied 35 to 40% of diet CP (12.5% CP diets). Dry matter intake was adjusted to 2.3% of BW for each steer in each period. Total N flow at the duodenum decreased (P < .01) when the diet was supplemented with urea vs other proteins due to decreased (P < .01) flow of nonmicrobial N. However, microbial N and AA flows were greater (P < .05) for urea than for other protein supplements. Disappearance of OM and NDF in the stomach decreased (P < .07) or was numerically lower but nonmicrobial N at the duodenum increased (P < .08) as CB replaced SBM or DCGF in the diet. Protein source had little effect on ruminal fermentation characteristics except that ruminal ammonia N (NH3N) concentration was higher (P < .05) for urea than for other treatments. Total AA and essential AA flows to and disappearance from the small intestine increased (P < .06) as CB replaced DCGF. However, substituting CB for SBM had little effect on intestinal flows and disappearance of AA. These data suggest that source of ruminally degradable CP can influence the efficacy of feeding ruminally degradable and undegradable CP in combination. In general, source of supplemental CP had a greater effect on the quantity than on the profile of absorbable AA supplied to the duodenum.

Supplementation of an Ammoniated Wheat Straw-Alfalfa Hay Diet

The effect of equal energy supplementation by corn (Zea mays L.) or corn gluten feed (CGF) on an ammoniated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw-alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay ration was determined by digestibility and growth trials. A completely randomized design digestibility trial was conducted with 12 Angus (Bos taurus) heifers (400-600 Ib) individually fed a diet of ad libitum ammoniated wheat straw and 0.55% body weight of alfalfa hay plus (i) no supplement (control), (ii) 0.79% body weight cracked corn (corn) or (iii) 0.95% body weight of pelleted dry CGF. Supplementation increased (P < 0.01) dry matter (DM) intake and digestibility (8.3, 11.9, and 11.9 Ib/d and 36.5, 48.5, and 57.3% for control, corn and CGF, respectively) [...]

Effect of Wet or Dry Corn Gluten Feed on Nutrient Digestibility and Milk Yield and Composition

A 22-wk trial was conducted to determine variations in nutrient concentrations of wet and dry corn gluten feed and their effect on nutrient digestibility and milk yield and composition. Holstein cows (n = 48) were blocked at parturition by parity and assigned randomly within block to one of three diets. All cows were fed a control TMR containing corn silage, ground corn, and commercial concentrate plus 2.3 kg/d of alfalfa hay during the 2-wk adjustment period. Thereafter, control diet was fed as wet or dry corn gluten feed substituted for 27% of dietary DM supplied by the control diet. Each cow received TMR for ad libitum consumption. Variations in nutrient concentrations of corn gluten feed were observed throughout the trial. The coefficient of variation was highest for ADIN, and standard deviation was highest for NDF. Intake of CP and NDF and apparent digestibility of DM were greatest when wet or dry corn gluten feed was fed. No differences in DMI, milk yield, and percentages of milk protein, lactose, or SNF were observed, but milk fat percentage was lowest when dry corn gluten feed was fed. Results indicate that corn gluten feed can replace 27% of dietary DM without altering milk yield, but new deliveries should be sampled regularly and amounts fed adjusted to compensate for varying nutrient concentrations.

Replacement of Corn Silage with Corn Gluten Feed and Sodium Bicarbonate for Lactating Dairy Cows1,2

A digestion trial with primiparous, rumen-cannulated Holstein cows and a lactation trial with multiparous Jersey and Holstein cows were done to evaluate effects of replacing NDF from corn silage with NDF from dry corn gluten feed or sodium bicarbonate. The high forage control diet contained 49% forage and 51% concentrate, and three other diets contained 30 to 35% forage and 65 to 70% concentrate. Two of the high concentrate diets had 20% corn gluten feed without or with 1% sodium bicarbonate. The remaining diet contained a typical corn-soybean meal concentrate plus 1% sodium bicarbonate. Due to the relatively high NDF of forages, diets averaged about 37.5% NDF. Cows fed buffer plus corn gluten feed had the highest NDF digestibility. Those fed the high forage control diet produced less milk and milk protein than did cows fed corn gluten feed replacing forage, due partly to a trend for lower DMI. Four percent FCM averaged 33.0kg/d for cows fed corn gluten feed plus buffer; this was higher than for those fed other diets (30.0 to 30.9kg/d). Under the conditions of these trials, the combination of 20% corn gluten feed and 1% sodium bicarbonate was an effective replacement for NDF from corn silage.

Maximizing Gluten Feed in Corn Silage Diets for Dairy Cows

Corn silage-based diets containing 20, 40, or 60% (DM basis) corn gluten feed were fed to 72 lactating cows to determine intake, milk yield, and milk composition. These diets plus a control (no corn gluten feed) were fed to four ruminally fistulated cows to determine digestibility and ruminal ammonia and VFA concentrations. Milk yields were significantly lower for cows fed the diet with 60% corn gluten feed, but when adjusted by covariate, milk yield was not different among diets. Milk protein percentage was greater for cows fed the 40 and 60% corn gluten feed diets.In the digestion trial, increased corn gluten feed led to decreased DM digestibility and decreased ruminal acetate concentration but did not affect N, NDF, ADF, or starch digestibilities. Ruminal ammonia and pH were unaffected.Net energy estimates for the diets were low relative to book values, suggesting significant depression in digestibility. Compared with conventional diets, NDF intake was high; this suggests that cows compensated for lower digestibility with increased DM intake. Diets containing up to 60% of DM as dry corn gluten feed were acceptable for dairy cows.

Effects of corn vs corn gluten feed on site, extent and ruminal rate of forage digestion and on rate and efficiency of gain.

Three digestion experiments and one growth experiment were conducted to determine site, extent and ruminal rate of forage digestion and rate and efficiency of gain by cattle offered alfalfa haylage supplemented with corn or dry corn gluten feed (CGF). In Exp. 1, eight steers were fed alfalfa haylage-based diets with substitution of corn for 0, 20, 40 or 60% of haylage in a 4 X 4 latin square. Increasing dietary corn substitution increased (P less than .05) OM, NDF and ADF digestion by steers but decreased (P less than .05) rate of in situ alfalfa DM digestion. In Exp. 2, five heifers were fed alfalfa haylage-based diets with increasing dietary levels of CGF in a 5 X 5 latin square. Increasing dietary CGF increased (P less than .05) OM, NDF and ADF digestion by heifers. In Exp. 3 and 4, cattle were fed alfalfa haylage-based diets containing either 20 or 60% corn or CGF. In Exp. 3, supplementation increased (P less than .05) OM and NDF digestion but level X supplement source interaction (P less than .05) occurred, with added CGF increasing OM and NDF digestion more than added corn. In Exp. 4, supplementation improved (P less than .05) DM intake, daily gain and feed efficiency. Dry matter intake and daily gain were greater (P less than .05) for 60% supplementation than for 20% supplementation. Overall, whereas increasing the level of dietary supplement increased (P less than .05) OM, NDF and ADF digestion, only corn addition decreased (P less than .05) rate of in situ alfalfa DM digestion. Daily gains and feed efficiencies were similar in cattle fed either corn or CGF with alfalfa haylage.

Response of high-producing dairy cows to high levels of dried corn gluten feed

Effects of dietary fiber content on utilization of dried corn gluten feed (DCGF) by lactating cows were studied in three trials. The experimental variables were source and amount of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in the diet. The four diets were: (1) control based on ground shelled corn (maize), containing 30% NDF; (2) 16.5% DCGF (36% NDF); (3) 33% DCGF (41% NDF); (4) control based on ground ear corn (36% NDF). In Trial I, 4 groups of 6 cows each were fed the diets for 12 weeks. Performance of cows was compared using data from a preliminary feeding period on Diet 4 as covariates. Mean dry matter intake (kg day −1) for Diets 1–4, respectively, was 19.2, 20.0, 20.9 and 19.0; milk yield (kg day −1), 31.0, 32.2, 32.6 and 30.0; milk protein (%), 3.2, 3.0, 2.9 and 3.0; milk fat (%), 3.2, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.2; and 4% fat-corrected milk (kg day −1), 26.6, 28.0, 27.9 and 26.9. In Trial II, nutrient digestibility of the 4 diets was determined in 5-day total collection studies, using 4 cows in a Latin square arrangement of treatments. Only dry matter digestibility differed, being higher ( P < 0.10) in the low NDF control diet. In Trial III, rumen metabolism was examined by monitoring rumen volatile fatty acid concentrations and proportions, rumen ammonia concentration, and rumen pH as a function of time after feeding. Although no significant differences among diets were observed, there were trends which indicated that rumen fermentation did not respond to the higher fiber (NDF) of DCGF in a predictable manner. Digestibility of ADF in ground (2-mm screen) orchardgrass hay (in sacco) was higher in cows given DCGF. Dried corn gluten feed is a satisfactory source of energy, protein and fiber for lactating cows when it comprises 15–20% of feed dry matter.

Effects of Dry Corn Gluten Feed on Feedlot Cattle Performance and Fiber Digestibility

Effects of dry corn gluten feed (DCGF) on feedlot cattle performance and fiber digestibility were investigated. In Trial 1, 120 growing steers were fed corn silage-based diets containing 0, 40, 60 or 80% DCGF. Increasing levels of DCGF resulted in a curvilinear response in gain (P less than .05) and a linear increase in feed/gain (P less than .01). When the same steers subsequently were fed the same levels of DCGF in corn-based diets (Trial 2), increasing the percentage of dietary DCGF resulted in a linear decrease in gain (P less than .01) and a linear increase in feed/gain (P less than .01). In Trial 3, 46 crossbred steers were fed individually in a 2 x 2 factorial design to determine effects of 60 or 80% dietary high-moisture corn (HMC) or DCGF on feedlot cattle performance. Steers fed HMC had faster (P less than .08) and more efficient (P less than .05) gains than those fed DCGF, which had greater feed intakes (P less than .05). In Trial 4, 120 Angus crossbred steers were used to compare effects of 20 or 40% dietary HMC or DCGF on feedlot performance. Steers fed diets containing 40% HMC or DCGF had greater gains (P less than .01) and feed intakes (P less than .01) than those fed 20% diets. Steers fed HMC gained more efficiently than those fed DCGF (P less than .01). In an in situ trial, 0, 40, 60 or 80% dietary DCGF did not affect in situ DCGF DM or NDF disappearance. When DCGF was fermented in vitro in combination with corn silage, increasing the level of DCGF from 0 to 100% resulted in a linear increase (P less than .01) in 24 and 48 h NDF disappearance. These results suggest that at high dietary levels DCGF will support feedlot cattle gains that are nearly equal to those of cattle fed corn silage but somewhat less than those fed corn.

Energy value of corn wet milling by-product feeds for finishing ruminants.

Five trials were conducted to evaluate the energy value of corn wet milling by-products in finishing diets. In trials 1 (45 finishing lambs, 34 kg) and 2 (70 digestion wethers, 32 kg), Rambouillet X Suffolk lambs fed corn gained faster (P less than .10), more efficiently (P less than .10) and had higher (P less than .01) digestibilities of neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF, ADF) and starch than lambs fed dry corn gluten feed (DCGF). Lambs fed wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) consumed less feed (trial 1, P less than .05; trial 2, P less than .01), were more efficient (P less than .01) NDF and ADF digestibilities than lambs fed DCGF. Starch, NDF and ADF digestion were higher (P less than .01) for lambs fed WCGF vs wet corn bran (WCB). Lambs fed WCGF gained faster (P less than .10) and consumed more (trial 1, P = .12; trial 2, P less than .10) feed than lambs fed WCB. Dried corn bran increased (trial 1, P less than .05; trial 2, P less than .01) intake and increased (P less than .01) dry matter digestion (DMD) compared with WCB. In trial 3, rates of in vitro dry matter and NDF disappearance were similar among by-product feeds. In trial 4 (50 individually fed Shorthorn-Hereford-Angus steers, 316 kg), steers fed WCGF tended to consume more (P = .14) feed than steers fed DCGF. Corn gluten feed (CGF) replacing 0 to 46% corn decreased gain (linear, P less than .05) and DMD (linear, P less than .10), while starch digestion was highest for 23% CGF (quadratic, P less than .01). A level X CGF type interaction (P = .15) occurred for efficiency due to the lower gain of steers fed 46% DCGF. The efficiency of CGF utilization was 97% that of corn when WCGF replaced 23 or 46% corn or DCGF replaced 23% corn. Dry CGF replacing 46% corn had 87% the value of corn. In trial 5 (186 Hereford-Angus cattle, 310 kg), DCGF replacing 25 and 50% corn had 97 to 100% the efficiency of corn, while intake and gain were not affected. Dry CGF replacing 25 and 50% corn silage increased (linear, P less than .05) intake 11.3% and gain 13.8%. In ruminants, CGF is highly digestible and feed efficiency is similar to corn when WCGF is fed up to 50% of the grain component or when DCGF is fed up to 25% of the grain component.

Effects of Feed Intake and Protein Degradability on Ruminal Characteristics and Site of Digestion in Steers

Four multiple-fistulated Hereford steers were used in a 4×4 Latin square design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments [two intakes (9.1 and 6.1kg dry matter/d) and two protein sources differing in ruminal degradability (dry distillers grains and dry corn gluten feed)]. Steers fed at the high intake had faster fluid dilution rates (7.63 versus 6.52%/h), higher ruminal fluid outflows (120.2 versus 91.7 L/d), lower apparent ruminal digestibilities of organic matter (41.3 versus 44.3%) and neutral detergent fiber (56.0 versus 60.2%), and lower total tract digestibilities of neutral detergent fiber (64.3 versus 68.7%) than when they were fed at the low intake. Steers fed dry corn gluten feed had higher apparent ruminal digestibilities of organic matter (45.5 versus 40.1%) and neutral detergent fiber (60.2 versus 56.0%) and lower duodenal flows of nonammonia-nonbacterial N (40.1 versus 52.2% of N intake) than when they were fed dry distillers grains. Efficiency of ruminal bacterial growth was higher when steers were fed at the high versus low intakes. Efficiency of ruminal bacterial growth and site and extent of fiber digestion, especially hemicellulose, but not ruminal escape of protein, can be readily altered by manipulation of feed intake of moderately high forage diets.

Ruminal Nitrogen Degradability and Escape of Wet and Dry Distillers Grains and Wet and Dry Corn Gluten Feeds

Solubility and rate and extent of ruminal digestion of nitrogen in wet distillers grains, dry distillers grains, wet corn gluten feed, and dry corn gluten feed were evaluated in the laboratory, in situ, and in vivo. Distillers grains protein was the most insoluble in modified Burrough's mineral mix, corn gluten feed protein the least insoluble, and soybean meal protein intermediate. In the in situ trial (trial 1), nitrogen of wet and dry distillers grains and nitrogen of wet and dry corn gluten feed disappeared at similar rates, respectively. However, nitrogen disappearance rates were greater for wet and dry distillers grains. In the rumen escape trial (trial 2), wet distillers grains, dry distillers grains, wet corn gluten feed, and dry corn gluten feed were fed as supplemental protein sources and a urea control served to estimate endogenous nitrogen flow. Non-ammonia-nonbacterial nitrogen reaching the duodenum was lowest for steers fed the urea treatment (20.9 g/day). Rates were higher for wet distillers grains (64.1 g/day) and dried distillers grains (74.7 g/day) treatments compared to wet corn gluten feed (41.3 g/day) and dry corn gluten feed (32.7 g/day) treatments. Percentage protein apparently escaping rumen fermentation was greater for steers fed wet distillers grains (47%) or dried distillers grains (54%) than for those fed wet corn gluten feed (26%) or dry corn gluten feed (14%).