EVALUATION OF WHEAT-BASED WET DISTILLERS GRAINS FOR FEEDLOT CATTLE

This study was conducted to determine the nutritive value of wheat-bas ed wet distillers' grains (WDG) for ruminants. Chemical composition an d in situ rumen degradability characteristics of WDG were compared wit h wet brewers' grain (WBG). The in situ trial involved three 48 h incu bations utilizing one ruminally fistulated cow. Trail 2 compared the v alue of WDG in growing and finishing rations relative to WBG and a con trol based on standard feed ingredients. Relative to WBG, WDG had grea ter (P < 0.05) NDF and ADL and similar ADF and CP levels. Fractionatio n of CP indicated that WDG contained more (P < 0.05) neutral detergent and less acid detergent insoluble CP than WBG. Effective degradabilit y of DM, CP, NDF and ADF in WDG exceeded (P < 0.05) WBG. Animal perfor mance in the growing period was similar (P > 0.01) among treatments. D uring the finishing period the control fed steers grew faster (P < 0.0 5) than WBG fed steers. WDG fed steers exhibited more (P < 0.05) inter muscular fat than control or WBG fed steers and less (P < 0.05) subcut aneous fat than WBG fed steers. It was concluded that WDG is more degr adable than WBG and thus cannot be considered as good a source of rume n undegraded protein. WDG can be used effectively as an energy and pro tein source for growing and finishing cattle.