Wet Distillers Grains With Solubles Research Articles

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF WET DISTILLERS GRAINS WITH SOLUBLES (WDGS) IN THE DIET OF DAIRY COWS

Corn wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) included up to 25% in the diet of 16 Simmental dairy cows, 27 to 72 months old, during three weeks, negatively affected rumen function monitored by non-invasive parameters, such as fecal consistency, and also influenced milk quality by reducing milk fat content. Dry distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) are currently the most attractive by-product of the bioethanol industry due to the possibility of application in the diet of various animal species, whereas WDGS is often more locally available and financially affordable; however, there is little data in the literature indicating potential negative consequences of its use. Therefore, this report aims to point out, based on a practical example, the possible problems of its application in the diet of dairy cows as the most metabolically sensitive category, as well as to demonstrate steps to prevent and/or mitigate eventual errors.

Enhancing feeding value of corn distiller’s grains with solubles via fungal co-cultured solid-state fermentation for monogastric animal nutrition

Corn distiller’s dried grains with solubles (cDDGS) as a major co-product from dry-grind corn-ethanol processes have imbalanced key amino acids (AA), high indigestible fiber and phytate, and risk of mycotoxin contamination, which limit its inclusion rate in monogastric animal diets. This study used cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma reesei (TR), two zygomycete fungi Mucor indicus (MI) and Rizopus oryzae (RO) and their co-cultures to ferment corn wet distiller’s grains with solubles (WDGS) with the supply of soybean hulls and urea via solid-state fermentation at 28 °C for up to 9 days. Compared to control (non-inoculation) and monoculture, TR and RO co-culture (TR+RO) after 6 and 9 days showed more balanced branch-chain AA (BCAA) of valine (Val), leucine (Leu), and isoleucine (Ile), higher phytate reduction (56–61%), lower concentration of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and total aflatoxins (AFT). However, the treatments with MI (MI, RO+MI, TR+MI) showed increase of DON while reduction of ZEN compared to treatment without MI. Due to fast growth of RO and MI, the co-culture of TR+MI and TR+RO after 3 days of fermentation improved total AA by 32 % and 28 %, respectively, higher than monoculture of TR (18 % after 3 days). Compared with co-culture, monoculture of TR produced feed with higher in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) with 22–43 % improvement from control, and higher in vitro digestibility of total AA (IVDAA) with 35–50 % improvement from control, the similar level was also achieved by co-culture of TR+RO after 6 days of fermentation. Therefore, co-culture of TR+RO and monoculture of TR in fungal bioprocessing could provide a feasible solution to improve the overall feeding value of the cDDGS.

Impacts of including Sweet Bran and wet distillers grains with solubles alone or in combination in finishing cattle diets on physically effective fiber concentrations and rumen buffering characteristics of feedlot cattle.

This study evaluated the effects of Sweet Bran (SB) and wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) in the diet alone or in combination on physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF), ruminal pH, and rumination behavior of finishing beef cattle. For this study, 455 steers (373 ± 15.5 kg) were allocated to 48 pens in a randomized complete block design. Treatments (n = 12 pens per treatment) were one of four steam-flaked corn-based diets containing no corn-milling products (CON), 20% WDGS (WDGS20), 20% SB (SB20), or 20% SB and 10% WDGS (COMBO). Within each pen, two steers were randomly selected to receive an indwelling ruminal pH bolus to quantify ruminal pH and a 3-axis accelerometer tag to measure rumination for the first 92 d of the study. Diet samples were collected weekly to determine particle size, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration, and peNDF. Physically effective NDF was calculated using both the proportion of particles > 4.0 mm (peNDF4.0) and the proportion of particles > 8.0 mm (peNDF8.0). The percentage of particles > 4.0 mm was greatest (P < 0.01) for CON, intermediate for SB20, and least for WDGS20 and COMBO. Both NDF (P < 0.01) and peNDF4.0 (P < 0.01) were greatest for COMBO, intermediate for WDGS20 and SB20, and least for CON. The percentage of particles > 8.0 was greatest (P < 0.01) for CON, intermediate for WDGS20 and SB20, and least for COMBO, but peNDF8.0 did not differ (P = 0.40). A diet × day interaction (P < 0.01) was observed for daily rumination minutes per kg of DMI, NDF, peNDF4.0, and peNDF8.0. A diet × hour interaction (P < 0.01) was observed where CON cattle spent less time ruminating at 0800 and 1000 h in a 24 h period. Daily ruminal pH was greatest (P < 0.01) for COMBO, intermediate for SB20 and WDGS20, and least for CON. A diet × hour interaction (P < 0.01) was also observed for circadian ruminal pH, where pH was least for CON from 0800 to 1800 h. Relationships between peNDF, rumination behavior, and ruminal pH observed in this study suggest that SB and WDGS similarly enhance rumen buffering capacity when steam-flaked corn is replaced in the diet.

Towards green whiskey production: Anaerobic digestion of distillery by-products and the effects of pretreatment

Using renewable biogas from the anaerobic digestion of distillery by-products as a low-carbon heat source can decarbonize the distillery process and support the distillery industry to transition to a more sustainable production process. This study investigated the anaerobic digestion performance of different types of whiskey by-products and the effects of acid pretreatment on the digestion of solid by-products. Results of biomethane potential assays showed that the methane yield from the unprocessed by-products was 330 mL/g volatile solids (VS) from draff, 495 mL/g VS from thin stillage, and 503 mL/g VS from thick stillage. For the processed by-products the specific methane yield was 370 mL/g VS from cake maize, 382 mL/g VS from wet distillers’ grains with solubles (WDGS), and 545 mL/g VS from syrup. Acid pretreatment (1% H2SO4 at 135 °C for 15 min) did not significantly improve the methane yield from solid by-products (such as draff and WDGS) but reduced the digestion time by 54.5% for cake maize. The microbial community analysis revealed that methane production from the untreated and acid-pretreated solid by-products (draff and WDGS) was mainly through the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis pathway. The gross thermal energy in the form of methane produced from 100 tonnes of mixed unprocessed by-products (draff, thin stillage, and thick stillage) was calculated as 24.4 MWthh equivalent to 60.6% of the thermal energy consumed in whiskey production, which effected the same percentage of CO2 emissions reduction.

Finishing diets with Sweet Bran and wet distillers grains with solubles alone or in combination improve performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers

This study evaluated the effects of Sweet Bran (SB) and wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) in the diet alone or in combination on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle. For this study, steers (n = 455; 373 ± 15.5 kg) were stratified by BW and previous antimicrobial treatment to 48 pens in a randomized complete block design (12 blocks, 4 pens per block) using pen as the experimental unit. Within block, pens of steers transitioned over 20 d to 1 of 4 dietary treatments based on steam-flaked corn, containing no corn-milling products (CON), 20% WDGS (WDGS20), 20% SB (SB20), or 20% SB and 10% WDGS (COMBO). Final BW and overall (d 0 to final) DMI and ADG were greater (P < 0.01) for WDGS20, SB20, and COMBO than for CON, but overall G:F (P = 0.48) was not different. Hot carcass weight was greatest (P = 0.04) for SB20 and WDGS20, intermediate for COMBO, and least for CON. Dressing percentage, marbling score, QG, 12th-rib fat, LM area, and KPH did not differ (P ≥ 0.21). Yield grade tended (P = 0.09) to be greater for WDGS20 and SB20 than CON. No difference (P ≥ 0.32) was observed between treatments for QG. Liver scores were not different (P = 0.47) among treatments. Empty body fat did not differ (P = 0.25), but empty BW was greater (P = 0.04) for WDGS20 and SB20 than COMBO and CON. No difference (P = 0.13) was observed for performance-calculated NE (Mcal/kg; maintenance or gain). The results of this study suggest that addition of WDGS, SB, or both into finishing diets based on steam-flaked corn increases DMI and subsequently improves performance of feedlot cattle.

Comparative evaluation of physicochemical and fermentative responses of three sorghum varieties from dryland and irrigated land and the properties of proteins from distillers’ grains

Three sorghum varieties [waxy sorghum (WS), high protein sorghum (HPS), and normal sorghum (NS)] grown under dryland and irrigated conditions were evaluated with respect to the physicochemical and fermentative properties. The proteins were extracted from wet distillers' grains with solubles (WDGS) and characterized in terms of purity and in vitro digestibility. Starch, crude protein, crude fat, and fiber contents of the sorghums ranged from 64.16 to 68.05 g/100 g, 11.49–13.54 g/100 g, 2.45–2.98 g/100 g, and 1.62–1.80 g/100 g, respectively. For the same variety, the sorghums grown under dryland conditions had higher protein (0.33–0.91 g/100 g) and lower starch contents (0.74–1.72 g/100 g) than those grown under irrigation conditions. The highest ethanol concentration (85.15 g/L) and yield (41.64 mL/100 g sorghum) were obtained from the NS under dryland conditions and HPS under irrigation conditions, respectively. Sorghums from irrigated land displayed 0.56–8.23 mL/100 g sorghum of ethanol yield higher than those from dryland. Protein (40.21–45.13 g/100 g), crude fat (11.54–13.95 g/100 g), and crude fiber (7.13–9.29 g/100 g) contents in dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) were increased approximately four times compared to the raw sorghum flour. The purity and digestibility in terms of the degree of hydrolysis of the proteins isolated from different sorghum sources ranged from 88.82 to 94.22% and 33.35 to 37.29%, respectively. In addition, the effects of sorghum variety, treatment (dryland and irrigated land), and their interaction on the chemical composition of sorghum and DDGS, ethanol concentration and yield, as well as the purity and digestibility of WDGS proteins were elucidated with a set of correlation coefficients among parameters associated with sorghum.

Nutritional quality of wet distillers’ grains co–ensiled with whole–plant maize and its feeding value for lambs

The high moisture content of wet distillers’ grains with solubles (WDGS) has limited its feeding value despite the relatively high nutritive value. The co–ensiling with whole–plant maize, as a complementary feed, was evaluated for growing lambs by formulating diets whose contents were: whole plant maize silage (WPMS) + sunflower oilcake meal (SOM) (control, WPMS + SOM), whole plant maize silage + dried distillers’ grains (WPMS + DDGS), and whole–plant maize (WPM) co–ensiled with WDGS (WPM – WDGS). Rumen fermentation parameters and in situ degradability of the diets were evaluated using three cannulated Merino wethers in a cross over 3 × 3 Latin square design experiment that lasted 39 days. Concurrently, feed intake and growth performance of South Africa Mutton Merino lambs (29.7 ± 3.6 kg) were evaluated over 45 days. The WPMS + DDGS diet had a lower rate of dry matter degradation (p < 0.05) compared to the WPMS + SOM and WPM–WDGS diets. However, the rapidly fermentable fraction, as well as the progressively fermentable fraction of the diet dry matter, was not different (p > 0.05). No differences in rumen volatile fatty acid, ammonia nitrogen concentration nor rumen pH of the wethers as a result of diet differences were observed. Lambs consuming the WDGS–based diet had a lower average daily intake and average daily gain (p < 0.05) compared to lambs consuming the DDGS and WPMS–based diets. However, the feed conversion ratio was not affected by diet differences (p > 0.05). In conclusion, co–ensiling WDGS with whole–plant maize provides the opportunity for the long–term storage and utilization of WDGS in lamb feeding.

Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds from Land-Applied Beef Cattle Manure as Affected by Application Method, Diet, and Soil Water Condition

HighlightsThe largest contributors to odor activity values (OAV) were heptanoic acid (23.5%), hexanoic acid (17.6%), indole (14.7%), and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) (9.50%).Measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOC) were greater from plots where manure was surface-applied than from plots with incorporated manure.Emissions of DMDS and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) (0.318 and 0.074 µg m-2 min-1, respectively) were greater for plots with manure from beef cattle fed a diet containing 30% wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS).Rainfall immediately after manure application influenced the types and amounts of VOC that were emitted.Abstract. Land application of beef cattle manure may result in the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC). This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of diet, land application method, soil water condition, and time since manure application on VOC emissions. Manure was collected from feedlot pens where cattle were fed diets containing 0%, 10%, or 30% wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS). The effects of manure application method (surface-applied or incorporated) and soil water condition (saturated or wet) on VOC emissions were measured over a 48 h period. Heptanoic, hexanoic, isobutyric, and isovaleric acids contributed 23.5%, 17.6%, 9.26%, and 3.39% (0.034, 0.258, 0.030, and 0.014 µg m-2 min-1), respectively, to total odor activity values (OAV). The aromatics indole and skatole contributed 14.7% and 8.84%, (0.005 and 0.0004 µg m-2 min-1), respectively, to total OAV. Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) contributed 9.50% (0.013 µg m-2 min-1) and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) contributed 5.68% (0.030 µg m-2 min-1) to total OAV. Emissions of the sulfur compounds (DMDS and DMTS) were substantially greater for the 30% WDGS diet. With the exception of heptanoic acid, flux measurements were greater from the plots where manure was surface-applied than from the plots where manure was incorporated. Emissions of each VOC were greater on the first day following manure application when a saturated soil water condition was present. VOC flux values were found to rapidly decrease following manure application. Effective best management practices for reducing VOC emissions are to incorporate manure soon after application and to delay land application when there is a high probability of rainfall. Keywords: Air contaminants, Air quality, Environmental management, Land application, Manure management, Odor control, Odor emission, Odor evaluation, Volatile organic compounds, Volatile fatty acids.

Status of Serum Mineral and Biochemical Parameters in Cross bred Cows fed Different Levels of Wet Distillers Grains with Solubles (WDGS)

Status of Serum Mineral and Biochemical Parameters in Cross bred Cows fed Different Levels of Wet Distillers Grains with Solubles (WDGS)

Evaluation of whole corn substitution in diets based on steam-flaked corn containing different concentrations of wet distillers grains with solubles for beef cattle

Our objective was to determine effects of substituting steam-flaked corn (SFC) with whole shelled corn (WSC) in finishing diets containing wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) on cattle performance, carcass characteristics, digestion, and rumen microbial ecology. The study used 642 Angus-cross heifers (411.7 ± 18.0 kg of initial BW) assigned to 36 pens. Treatments (2 × 3 factorial) were 6 SFC-based finishing diets with 0 or 20% WSC and 0, 15, or 30% WDGS (DM basis). Ruminal fluid was collected to evaluate ruminal characteristics, and feces and manure were collected to determine nutrient digestion and losses. Heifers fed 20% WSC diets had greater ( P < 0.01) DMI, but ADG and G:F were not affected ( P ≥ 0.11) by WSC concentration. The percentage of carcasses grading USDA Choice tended to be lower ( P = 0.07) for cattle fed diets with 20 versus 0% WSC. Increasing dietary WDGS decreased G:F ( P < 0.01) and tended to decrease ADG ( P = 0.10), increased DMI ( P = 0.08), and decreased hot carcass weight ( P = 0.09). Dietary WSC affected ruminal pH ( P < 0.01) and VFA molar concentrations ( P = 0.05). Ruminal acetate:propionate decreased (quadratic, P < 0.03) with increasing WDGS. Bacterial diversity was not affected by WSC ( P = 0.63) but increased with increasing WDGS ( P = 0.01). Substituting SFC with 20% WSC in cattle finishing diets did not affect animal performance but decreased carcass quality. In contrast, increasing dietary WDGS decreased animal performance but did not affect carcass characteristics.

Effect of Feeding Wet Distillers Grains with Solubles (WDGS) on Milk Yield and Composition in Crossbred Cows

Effect of Feeding Wet Distillers Grains with Solubles (WDGS) on Milk Yield and Composition in Crossbred Cows

Effects of the degree of steam flaking and dietary concentration of wet distillers grains on growth performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle

The objective was to determine the effects of degree of steam flaking of corn (SFC) on performance of finishing cattle fed diets containing wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS). Crossbred steers (n = 214: initial BW = 357 ± 26.0 kg) and heifers (n = 121: initial BW = 323 ± 30.9 kg) were randomly assigned to 54 pens and 6 diets containing 0, 15, or 30% WDGS and corn steam flaked to either 321 or 270 g/L bulk density (25 or 21 lb/bu, respectively) in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. There were no interactions between WDGS concentration and SFC bulk density for growth performance ( P > 0.48), and growth performance was not influenced by the degree of steam flaking of corn ( P > 0.29). Dry matter intake ( P < 0.15) and ADG ( P < 0.06) tended to respond quadratically to dietary WDGS. Gain efficiency tended ( P = 0.15) to decrease linearly as dietary WDGS concentration increased. Carcass characteristics were not affected by SFC density but hot carcass weight ( P < 0.12), DP ( P < 0.01), and YG ( P < 0.14) were affected by WDGS concentration. Decreasing bulk density of SFC tended ( P < 0.11) to increase the frequency of liver abscesses. Results suggest optimal performance is achieved in SFC-based finishing diets when WDGS is fed at 15% of DM and that increasing the degree of steam flaking of corn to less than 321 g/L does not improve cattle performance in diets containing WDGS.

199 Inclusion of Sweet Bran™ and wet distillers grains alone or in combination improves performance, carcass merit, and rumen buffering characteristics of feedlot cattle fed steam-flaked corn diets

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of Sweet Bran™ (SB) and/or wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) in the diet alone or in combination on performance, carcass characteristics, ruminal pH, and rumination of finishing beef cattle. Steers (n = 455) were randomly allocated to 48 pens and assigned to 1 of 4 steam-flaked corn-based dietary treatments containing: no byproducts (CON), 20% WDGS (WDGS), 20% SB (SB), or 20% SB and 10% WDGS (COMBO). Within each pen, 2 steers were randomly selected to receive a ruminal pH bolus and ear tag to quantify pH and rumination. Diet samples were collected weekly to determine particle size and physically effective fiber. Final BW, DMI, and ADG were greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) for WDGS, SB, and COMBO than CON. Hot carcass weight was greatest (P = 0.04) for WDGS and SB, intermediate for COMBO, and least for CON. Yield grade tended (P = 0.09) to be greater for WDGS, SB, and COMBO than CON. A numerical increase in abscessed livers was observed for CON. The percentage of particles &amp;gt; 4 mm was greatest (P &amp;lt; 0.01) for CON, intermediate for SB, and least for WDGS and COMBO. However, NDF (P &amp;lt; 0.01) and peNDF (P &amp;lt; 0.01) were greatest for COMBO, intermediate for WDGS and SB, and least for CON. A treatment × time interaction was observed as CON cattle spent less time ruminating at 0800 and 1000 h (P &amp;lt; 0.01) in a 24h period. Ruminal pH was least (P &amp;lt; 0.01) for CON from 0800 to 1800 h. Addition of WDGS and/or SB improved performance and reduced feed cost of gain when incorporated into steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets. Relationships between peNDF, rumination behavior, and ruminal pH suggest that SB and/or WDGS enhance buffering capacity when steam-flaked corn is replaced in the diet.

Effect of Corn Processing and Wet Distiller’s Grains with Solubles on Odorous Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Urine and Feces of Beef Cattle

Abstract. Wet distiller’s grains with solubles (WDGS) are a common feed ingredient in beef feedlot diets but the high nitrogen content of these diets creates air quality issues, primarily due to the aromatic compounds emitted during protein fermentation. Use of high moisture corn (HMC) instead of dry-rolled corn (DRC) in cattle feedlot diets has been shown to reduce some odors associated with excess starch in cattle feedlot diets. We hypothesized that using HMC in place of DRC in diets containing WDGS would reduce some of the odors associated with WDGS-DRC diets. A 4 × 4 replicated Latin square with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used. Diets contained either DRC or a 2:1 ratio of HMC and DRC, with WDGS at either 25% or 45% of the diet dry matter resulting in four treatments: DRC-25, HMC-25, DRC-45 and HMC-45. Odorous compounds were measured from feces and urine of cattle fed the four diets. Feces from cattle fed diets containing 45% WDGS had a higher flux of p-cresol (9.42 µg m-3 min-1), 4-ethyphenol (0.04 µg m-3 min-1), and total aromatic compounds (13.56 µg m-3 min-1) compared to feces from cattle fed 25% WDGS (3.38, 0.03, and 6.86 µg m-3 min-1, respectively). Corn processing did not influence fecal odor flux. Urinary flux of odorous compounds was largely unaffected by corn processing method and only p-cresol (9.58 µg m-3 min-1), and total aromatic compounds (11.34 µg m-3 min-1) were higher for cattle fed 45% WDGS compared to cattle fed 25% WDGS (7.65 and 9.12 µg m-3 min-1, respectively for p-cresol and total aromatics). Overall there were no significant differences in odor potential, as determined by odor activity value (OAV), for cattle fed diets containing HMC and DRC with either concentration of WDGS. From these results, we interpret that producers may feed diets containing HMC or DRC in combination with WDGS at inclusion rates up to 45% with only minimal impacts of air quality. Keywords: Beef cattle manure, Distiller’s dried grain solubles, Dry-rolled corn, High-moisture corn, Odor, Volatile organic compounds.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Beef Feedlot Surface Materials as Affected by Diet, Moisture, Temperature, and Time

Abstract. A laboratory study was conducted to measure the effects of diet, moisture, temperature, and time on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from feedlot surface materials (FSM). The FSM were collected from open-lot pens where beef cattle were fed either a dry-rolled corn (DRC) diet containing no wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) or a DRC diet containing 35% WDGS. The FSM were collected, air-dried or mixed with 3.0 L of water to represent dry or wet conditions, and then incubated at temperatures of 5°C, 15°C, 25°C, or 35°C. Static flux chambers were used to quantify GHG emissions over a 14-day period. Flux data for each diet × moisture combination were analyzed using repeated measures in time. The largest GHG emissions occurred under wet conditions at temperatures of 25°C and 35°C. Flux values for these conditions typically were significantly greater than measurements obtained on the same day at 5°C and 15°C. Mean emissions under wet conditions for CO2, CH4, and N2O were 35, 121, and 278 times greater, respectively, than emissions from dry FSM. The 0% WDGS diet produced mean CO2 and N2O flux measurements that were 1.8 and 1.5 times greater, respectively, than those obtained for the 35% WDGS diet. The 35% WDGS diet, in contrast, produced a mean CH4 emission rate that was 6 times greater than the 0% WDGS diet. Management for GHG mitigation should include design and/or maintenance of pen drainage to speed drying as well as the use of modified animal diets. Keywords: Air quality, Carbon dioxide, Confined animal feeding operations, Drainage, Emission rates, Feedlot, Greenhouse gas, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Pen design.

Evaluation of Commercial β-Agonists, Dietary Protein, and Shade on Fecal Shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Feedlot Cattle.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen commonly associated with cattle feces. Diet, including dietary supplements such as β-agonists, may impact fecal shedding of this pathogen. A series of three experiments were conducted to determine if the β-agonists ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) or zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) would impact the level or prevalence of fecal E. coli O157:H7 shedding. In Experiment 1, dietary RAC did not impact fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 based on the level or prevalence, but the addition of dietary soybean meal (SBM) in the study did reduce E. coli O157:H7 shedding. In Experiments 2 and 3, dietary ZH did not affect fecal E. coli O157:H7 shedding as determined by enumeration or prevalence, but in Experiment 2 the addition of 30% (dry matter basis) wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) in the diet tended to increase E. coli O157:H7 shedding. Shade is a potential management tool to reduce heat stress in cattle, and in Experiment 3 the presence of shade over the feedlot pens did not affect E. coli O157:H7 shedding. The use of β-agonists in cattle diets did not significantly affect fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7, and in particular the percentage of animals shedding enumerable levels of the pathogen did not change, indicating that there was not a change in colonization. As has been reported previously and indicated again in this study, the use of WDGS in the diet may increase E. coli O157:H7 shedding. In contrast, the addition of SBM to cattle diets, to increase the dietary crude protein, appeared to reduce E. coli O157:H7 shedding, but this potential dietary intervention needs to be confirmed with additional research.

Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Total Escherichia coli in Feces and Feedlot Surface Manure from Cattle Fed Diets with and without Corn or Sorghum Wet Distillers Grains with Solubles

Feeding corn wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) to cattle can increase the load of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in feces and on hides, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. The objective of these experiments was to examine a role for the persistence of E. coli O157:H7 in the feces and feedlot pen surfaces of cattle fed WDGS. In the first study, feces from steers fed 0, 20, 40, or 60% corn WDGS were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7. The E. coli O157:H7 numbers in feces from cattle fed 0% corn WDGS rapidly decreased (P < 0.05), from 6.28 to 2.48 log CFU/g of feces by day 14. In contrast, the E. coli O157:H7 numbers in feces from cattle fed 20, 40, and 60% corn WDGS were 4.21, 5.59, and 6.13 log CFU/g of feces, respectively, on day 14. A second study evaluated the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in feces from cattle fed 0 and 40% corn WDGS. Feces were collected before and 28 days after the dietary corn was switched from high-moisture corn to dry-rolled corn. Within dietary corn source, the pathogen persisted at higher concentrations (P < 0.05) in 40% corn WDGS feces at day 7 than in 0% WDGS. For 40% corn WDGS feces, E. coli O157:H7 persisted at higher concentrations (P < 0.05) at day 7 in feces from cattle fed high-moisture corn (5.36 log CFU/g) than from those fed dry-rolled corn (4.27 log CFU/g). The percentage of WDGS had no effect on the E. coli O157:H7 counts in feces from cattle fed steam-flaked corn-based diets containing 0, 15, and 30% sorghum WDGS. Greater persistence of E. coli O157:H7 on the pen surfaces of animals fed corn WDGS was not demonstrated, although these pens had a higher prevalence of the pathogen in the feedlot surface manure after the cattle were removed. Both or either the greater persistence and higher numbers of E. coli O157:H7 in the environment of cattle fed WDGS may play a part in the increased prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle by increasing the transmission risk.

Hourly methane production in finishing steers fed at different levels of dry matter intake1

Methane (CH) loss from finishing cattle is important as it represents an energy loss that could be used for maintenance and growth, and CH is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 21 to 25 times that of CO. Our objectives were to determine hourly CH production from growing cattle fed diets differing in corn processing method (dry rolling or steam flaking) and wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) inclusion rate. Eight steers (195 kg ± 2.3 in Exp. 1 and 322 kg ± 3.7 in Exp. 2) were fed the following diets: 1) steam-flaked corn (SFC)-based diet with 0% WDGS (SFC-0); 2) SFC-based diet with 15% WDGS (SFC-15); 3) SFC-based diet with 30% WDGS (SFC-30); 4) SFC-based diet with 45% WDGS (SFC-45); 5) Dry-rolled corn DRC)-based diet with 0% WDGS (DRC-0); and 6) DRC-based diet with 30% WDGS (DRC-30). All hourly CH data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Individual animal was the experimental unit. The model included the fixed effect of h, diet, and the h × diet interaction. Hourly differences in CH were analyzed using repeated measures. There were numerous h × diet interactions and thus simple-effect means are presented. In steers fed DRC-0 or DRC-30 at 2-times maintenance, the greatest hourly CH emissions occur 6 h after feeding ( < 0.01) with a secondary peak between 10 and 11 h after feeding ( < 0.01). For cattle fed SFC-0, SFC-15, SFC-30, and SFC-45 at 2-times maintenance, all diets had peak CH emissions 5 and 6 h after feeding ( < 0.01), with a secondary CH peak for SFC-45 nine to 11 h after feeding ( < 0.01). Cattle fed all diets at a maintenance level of intake exhibited 1 peak in hourly CH production between 3 and 6 h after feeding ( < 0.01). All steers fed SFC-30 and SFC-45 had sustained CH production over several hours, irrespective of intake level. Steers fed SFC-45 produced more CH beginning 4 h after feeding ( < 0.01) and produced a greater amount of CH than any other treatment ( < 0.01). Methane production generally peaked 6 h after feeding irrespective of intake level or diet type. Additionally, when fed above a maintenance level of intake, a secondary peak in CH production was observed 9 to 11 h after feeding, and steers fed at a maintenance level of intake had only 1 peak in CH production in a 23-h period.

Effects of feeding wet distillers grains to cattle during different phases of production on lipid oxidation of cooked ground beef patties during storage

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2> As a coproduct of the fuel ethanol industry, distillers grains are commonly included in cattle diets and can alter fatty acid composition and increase lipid oxidation in beef. However, to our knowledge, current research has only evaluated raw beef products. This study investigated how supplementing dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) during backgrounding (0 or 0.6% of BW per steer daily) and including wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) in finishing diets (0 or 35% inclusion, DM basis) affected beef fatty acid profiles and lipid oxidation in cooked beef patties during refrigerated and frozen storage. Beef shoulder clods (n = 16) were independently ground and evaluated for fatty acid composition. From each clod, beef, salt, and sodium phosphate were mixed, and patties were formed, cooked, and placed in refrigerated and frozen storage. Backgrounding supplementation with DDGS caused a greater saturated:unsaturated fatty acid ratio (<i>P</i> = 0.04). Inclusion of 35% WDGS during finishing resulted in greater C18:0, C20:2, C22:0, and PUFA content (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.04). For cooked beef patties in refrigerated storage, backgrounding DDGS supplementation resulted in greater oxidation (<i>P</i> < 0.01), but including 35% WDGS during finishing decreased oxidation (<i>P</i> = 0.02). A backgrounding × finishing diet interaction (<i>P</i> < 0.01) for lipid oxidation in frozen, cooked beef patties was identified. Backgrounding DDGS supplementation increased lipid oxidation regardless of finishing diet. For cattle without backgrounding supplementation, less lipid oxidation occurred with WDGS inclusion in finishing diets. Although backgrounding DDGS supplementation resulted in few differences in fatty acid composition, it resulted in increased lipid oxidation.

Effects of wet distillers grains with solubles in diets based on steam-flaked corn containing moderate or high roughage levels on nutrient digestibility in feedlot cattle and in vitro fermentation

ABSTRACT Previous research with roughage and wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) concentrations in feedlot diets based on steam-flaked corn has not extensively evaluated measurements of digestibility. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of concentrations of alfalfa hay (AH) and WDGS on apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility by finishing cattle and in vitro fermentation characteristics. In both studies, treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial and consisted of diets based on steam-flaked corn including AH (6 or 12% of DM) and WDGS (15, 30, or 45% of DM), and a control diet without WDGS that contained 9% AH. In Exp. 1, 56 beef steers (initial BW = 395 ± 7 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design and fed for 28 d. Intakes of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, and CP were greater (P ≤ 0.048) by steers fed 12 versus 6% AH. Increasing the dietary concentration of WDGS increased NDF, ADF, and CP intakes (P ≤ 0.046), and an AH × WDGS interaction (P ≤ 0.02) was detected for starch intake. Digestibility of DM and OM was greater for control steers than for the average of all treatments containing WDGS (P