Comparison of wheat-based dried distillers’ grain with solubles to barley as an energy source for backgrounding cattle

Abstract

Replacement of barley grain with wheat-based dried distillers’ (DDGS) grain with solubles at 25 and 50% of the total ration dry matter increased average daily gain and gain efficiency of backgrounding steers. No differences in dry matter intake or composition of gain were observed. The results of this trial indicate that barley grain can be replaced by wheat-based DDGS at up to 50% of the diet dry matter in backgrounding rations without any adverse effects on cattle performance. The economics of feeding DDGS at these levels would depend on availability and price relative to barley and other cereal grains. Key words: Dried distillers' grain, beef cattle, feedlot, ethanol, by-products