Wet Brewers Grains Research Articles

The Effects of Wet Brewers Grain Levels on Finishing Steer Performance

AbstractSixty-four mixed breed steers were blocked on weight, randomly assigned to four treatments, and placed in individual pens. Treatments included finishing diets containing on a dry matter basis: 1) 8% corn silage (CS), 2) 8% wet brewers grain (WBG),3) 16% WBG, and 4) 24% WBG. Feed intake washigher (P <.05) for steers fed 16 or 24% WBG compared to those fed 8% WBG or CS diets. Intake was not different among animals fed the dietary treatments by the end of the 111-day trial. Cattle fed 16% WBG gained faster (P <.10) than those fed the 24% WBG diet. Feed efficiency and feed cost of gain favored the 16% WBG numerically over the other treatments. Based on feed cost of gain and 171.8kg of gain, steers fed the 8, 16, and 24% WBG fed for $2.04, 5.59 and -3.71, respectively, per head less than those fed 8% corn silage. Quality grade was significantly better for steers fed the 16% level of WBG. Wet brewers grain can besubstituted for 8% CS and urea equally in finishing diets. Wet brewers grain at 16% may be a more appropriate level in finishing diets than 8% WBG.

The Effects of Wet on Growing Heifer Brewers Grain Performance

AbstractSixty-four crossbred heifers, individually penned and fed, were used in a growing trial to evaluate four levels of wet brewers grain (WBG). A randomized block design was used to evaluate diet dry matter at four levels: 1} 0%, 2} 3%, 3} 12%, and 4} 33% WBG. The remainder of the diet included cornsilage and supplements. Feeding 33% WBG reduced (P<.05) feed intake during the trial compared to the 12% WB diet. Heifers fed the 12% WBG diet gained faster (P<.01) than heifers fed the other diets. By the end of the growing trial heifers fed either 12 or 33% WBG were more efficient (P<.001) than those fed the 3% WBG diet. Feed cost of gain was lower (P<.08) for heifers fed 12% WBG compared to those fed the 3% WBG diet. Based upon 102.3kg of wexight gain, heifers fed 3 and 33% WBG cost $4.70 and $2.95 more per head than those fed 0% WBG, while heifers fed 12% WBG cost $4.57 per head less than those fed the 0% WBG diet. Theestimated NEm and NEg value of 12% WBG was comparable to barley in growing diets.

Ruminal Degradation of Dried Brewers Grains, Wet Brewers Grains, and Soybean Meal

A series of trials was conducted to determine the ruminal degradation of nitrogenous compounds and dry matter of soybean meal, wet brewers grains, and dried brewers grains. In situ and in vitro estimates of degradation were positively correlated but yielded different absolute values for measures of ruminal degradation. Ruminal digestion of protein, predicted from in situ data, was 42, 73, and 83% for brewers dried grains, brewers wet grains, and soybean meal. Drying of wet grains at either 50 or 150°C increased resistance to ruminal digestion equally. Measurements of flow of dry matter and nitrogen of feed origin to the duodenum were made in vivo for diets containing either brewers dried grains or soybean meal. Negative apparent digestibility of nitrogen in the rumen for a 13% crude protein, brewers dried grains ration indicates the potential for using a nonprotein nitrogen supplement with this ration. Resistance to digestion of nitrogen from brewers dried grains occurred only in the rumen. Amino acid patterns delivered to the small intestine and digestion of duodenal contents were similar for diets containing brewers dried grains or soybean meal.

Milk Production Response to Diets Supplemented with Dried Brewers Grains, Wet Brewers Grains, or Soybean Meal

Forty four multiparous Holsteins, 114±28 days in milk (32 kg/day, 3.4% fat), were fed a basal diet of 12% crude protein and 20% acid detergent fiber for 10 days, then stratified by milk production into four groups. Cows were randomized to one of nine diets in a 3×3 factorial in which basal was supplemented with dried brewers grains, wet brewers grains, or soybean meal to supply in the diet 14.5, 16.0, and 17.5% crude protein. Eight cows remained on basal during the 50-day trial. Basal contained: 14% alfalfa silage, 27% ensiled ground-corn, 53% corn silage, and 6% vitamin-mineral mix. Milk production (kg/day) for cows fed dried brewers grains (29.4) and wet brewers grains (28.9) was higher than soybean meal (26.2) and basal (23.1). Milk production was different for diets with high (29.6) vs. low (27.8) and medium (27.2) protein. Dry matter intake (as percent of body weight) was 3.7, 3.5, 3.3, and 2.9 for dried brewers, wet brewers, soybean meal, and basal, respectively. Milk protein percent and milk fat percent differed for protein source. Rumen fluid ammonia nitrogen for combined 2, 4, and 6h post-feeding, was (mg/100ml) 10.4 for dried brewers, 14.9 for wet brewers, and 18.0 for soybean meal and increased from 13.2 to 15.4 with increased protein. Plasma urea tended to follow patterns of rumen ammonia. Dried brewers grains had lower apparent nitrogen digestibility but equal nitrogen balance, indicating more efficient metabolic use than soybean meal.

Nutritive Value of Wet Brewers Grains for Lactating Dairy Cows

Forty Holstein cows of high potential for milk production were assigned prepartum to five rations of varying protein percent and source. Protein was 85, 100, and 118% of the requirements recommended by the National Research Council. Within 100 and 118%, supplemental protein was either wet brewers grains or soybean meal. Wet brewers grains constituted 15 and 30% of ration dry matter or approximately 25 and 50% of total intake of concentrate dry matter for the 100 and 118% rations. The trial was the first 140 days of lactation.Production and composition of milk were not different between percents and sources of supplemental protein. However, production was reduced slightly by the unsupplemented ration containing 85% of recommendation. Rumen ammonia nitrogen and urea nitrogen of blood plasma were correlated with intakes of ration protein and soluble nitrogen among all rations and within rations containing soybean meal but not within rations containing wet brewers grains. Calculated energy for wet brewers grains indicated total digestible nutrients of 78% and net energy for lactation of 1.76 Mcal/kg of dry matter. These are approximately 16% greater than those listed by National Research Council.

Experiments on the nutrition of the dairy heifer:IX. Food utilization in lactation

SUMMARYFood utilization by lactating dairy cows was studied in a randomized experiment covering the first 24 weeks of lactation, with further observations on performance over the remainder of the lactation under farm conditions. Over a 3-year period 90 firstcalf cows each took part in the experiment for one lactation, making six groups of 14–16 animals.For the experimental period a fixed basal diet was given of hay, concentrates, and wet brewer's grains. One group received only the basal ration. Four groups received in addition a fixed concentrates supplement for 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks from calving onwards respectively. The sixth group also had supplementary concentrates for 16 weeks but for weeks 5–12 inclusive the amount was doubled so that this group's diet simulated broadly ad libitum feeding in early lactation.Milk yield was increased by extra concentrates. The greater part of the effect was apparent in the first 2 weeks of different levels of intake, with a further build-up over the next 6–8 weeks. The size of the response fell as time from calving to initiation of different intakes increased. Additional food increased and delayed peak yield level. Persistency of milk yield was not affected by fixed differences in intake. Rate of liveweight change was improved by extra concentrates, less so in the third compared with the first month on treatment.A higher level of feeding in early lactation led to a greater partition of nutrients in mid-lactation to milk at the expense of gains in body reserves. This advantage to milk production extended to the end of lactation. In it the greatest response per unit concentrates was obtained from supplementation in the first 4 weeks of lactation but the total effect was increased by giving a double allowance of concentrates, and by extending the period of extra feeding to 8 weeks after calving.Solids-not-fat content and yield, and fat yield but not fat content, showed a similar response pattern to milk yield.Animal-to-animal variation in output on constant diets was characterized by negative regressions of live-weight change on milk yield. The regression coefficients were greater in early than in mid-lactation but they were constant in size at any one time for the various groups. A change in ration induced a change in output of the individual in which that production pathway favoured naturally by the animal was the more affected.

A Case of Choline Poisoning in Cattle

IN cattle at Kiriat Anavim (Palestine) the following pathological symptoms were observed. After the first calving the uterus did not contract but remained open and atonic for a considerable time, thus forming a source of secondary infections. This condition, which could not be influenced by the usual medical treatment, resulted frequently in inability to conceive and in abortions. No primary infectious disease could be found nor did anatomical or histological examinations of the sexual organs yield any result. The foodstuffs given were the same as employed, usually in Palestine dairy farming. They were not deficient in nutrients, minerals and vitamins. The only unusual foodstuffs given were wet brewer's grains, which formed a considerable part of the rations for some years. Infected barley is known to have had detrimental effects in some cases, owing to an excessive content of amines1, especially free choline2. Since normal barley generally does not contain appreciable amounts of free choline, we undertook to compare the brewer's grains with normal barley in respect to their choline contents.