Project Number: 6209-12310-002-13
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: Aug 01, 2003
End Date: Sep 30, 2006

Objective:
The objectives are to 1) evaluate the effects of the source (corn vs sorghum grain), and form (wet vs dry) of distillers grains on the health and performance of finishing feedlot cattle; 2) determine any interactions between dietary roughage concentration and distillers grains on performance of finishing beef cattle. Amendment to original agreement: In previous experiments, we found that distillers grains could be added to diets for young, growing pigs at much greater concentrations that once thought as long as proper formulation strategies were used to maintain the metabolizable energy concentration (ME) of the diet. However, nutritionists are wary of feedstuffs they are not used to including in diets and distillers grains traditionally have been used in formulations for ruminants and not swine. To further complicate the acceptance of distillers grains as a viable component of diets for swine is the fact that much of the expansion in production of ethanol, especially in the High-Plains states, is dependent on sorghum as the feedstock for fermentation. Sorghum-based distillers grains are a very new feedstuff for use in the diets of livestock and nutritionists are wary of any possible differences in feeding value relative to corn-based distillers grains. Thus, the experiments outlined in this proposal are designed to determine: 1) to determine the variability in content and digestibility of nutrients in sorghum-based distillers grains produced at several different ethanol plants and locations 2) to determine the relative merits of sorghum- vs corn-based distillers grains for use in diets for swine

Approach:
In a beef cattle finishing trial, steers will be fed one of 7 diets as follows: 1) control steam flaked corn with 6% added roughage, 2) 15% wet sorghum distillers grains, 3) treatment 2 with 6% added roughage, 4) 15% dried sorghum distillers grains, 5) treatment 4 with 6% added roughage, 6) 15% wet corn distillers grains with 6% added roughage, and 7) dried corn distillers grains with 6% added roughage. Feed intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, and carcass data will be determined. Fecal samples will be obtained for microbial analysis. Addition to original agrement: For the first swine feeding experiment, we will secure sorghum-based distillers grains from five to six ethanol plants located throughout the High-Plains and Midwestern U.S. These products will be evaluated for content and digestibility of nutrients (especially P, N, and energy) to determine the variability that can be expected in sorghum-based distillers grains. Many buyers discount sorghum-based distillers grains on the presumption of greater variability than would be experienced with corn-based distillers grains. Thus, it is important that reliable information is generated to define the variability in nutrient content and digestibility for sorghum-based distillers grains. Results from this digestibility experiment will address the issue of variability in nutritional value of distillers grains produced at ethanol plants cropping up around the U.S. and should go far to dispel any misconceptions about distillers grains produced from a cereal other than corn. From the first experiment, we will select a source of good quality, sorghum-based distillers grains to compare with corn-based distillers grains. There is a growing pool of evidence that new processing and drying technologies are in use that yield corn-based distillers grains of superior nutritional value. Thus, the objective for our second experiment will be to compare the relative merits of sorghum-and corn-based distillers grains in a growth assay using finishing pigs. Treatments will include a corn-soy control diet with 15 and 30% inclusions of sorghum- and corn-based distillers grains. These rates of inclusion have been selected to demonstrate suitability of distillers grains at concentrations well above those typical in modern diet formulations. It is imperative that nutritionists be convinced of the safety in adding distillers grains to diets at whatever concentration economics and availability allow.

Project Team

Cole, Noel - Andy Clark, Ray - Nolan Rice, William - Bill Joe Hancock - Professor 806-356-5748

Related National Programs

Food Animal Production (101)   Manure and Byproduct Utilization (206)