Frequency of feeding distillers dry grain with solubles as a supplement to beef cows grazing corn residue

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2016-10, Vol.94, p.290-290
• Main Authors: Gross, S M, Neville, B W, Brummer, F A, Undi, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beef cattle; Body weight; Cattle; Corn; Feeds; Grain; Grazing; Gusty winds; Harvest; Labor costs; Supplements
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/jam2016-0612

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of delivery frequency of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as a supplement to cows grazing corn residues in the northern Great Plains. The 36-d study was conducted in the fall of 2015, with 80 first and second calf cows (520 ± 34.5 kg BW). Ten cows were assigned to one of eight paddocks (4 ha each) of corn residue. Four applied treatments with two replications per treatment were no DDGS supplementation (control), DDGS fed daily, DDGS fed every third day, and DDGS fed every sixth day. The DDGS was fed at 0.35% BW per day. Body weight and body condition scores were recorded on two consecutive days at the beginning and end of the study. All cows had ad libitum access to water and a mineral supplement. After corn harvest, corn grain drop was estimated by counting the number of ears on the ground in three 30.5 m rows. Gusty winds in excess of 90 km - h-1 before harvest resulted in approximately 1004 kg - ha-1 of corn grain on the ground. Above normal temperatures were encountered through the six week course of the study. Average daily gain was greater (P < 0.05) following daily (1.57 ± 0.12 kg) and every third day supplementation (1.62 ± 0.12 kg) relative to control (1.22 ± 0.12 kg) or every sixth day supplementation (1.19 ± 0.12 kg). Body condition score change was greater (P < 0.05) following daily supplementation (0.7 ± 0.08) relative to every sixth day supplementation (0.4 ± 0.08). There was no difference (P > 0.05) in BCS change among control cows and cows supplemented daily or every third day. These results show that under certain conditions, such as mild weather and high grain drop, cows grazing corn residue may not require supplementation. Dried distillers grains with solubles can be supplementally fed every third day to reduce winter labor costs, with no detrimental effects to animal performance.