Nutritional management plays a key role in maintaining optimum performance and profitability of cattle fed in confinement. A quality nutritional program not only meets nutrient requirements, but also minimizes feed cost and maximizes profitability. With proper nutritional management, the use of co-products offers the feedlot manager an opportunity to lower feed costs and increase profitability of cattle. To effectively utilize co-products, the following management considerations should be examined.

Storage and Handling
Storage and handling requirements of a particular co-product must be evaluated prior to purchase. Handling and storage of these commodities require special consideration. Feed co-products vary in their handling characteristics, feed-out rate, and type of storage facility required. Many co-products can be obtained in high-moisture, loose, or pelleted forms. Handling characteristics to consider are moisture content and bulk density. Wet co-products, such as wet corn gluten feed when compared to dry gluten, have a shorter shelf life; therefore, require a faster feed-out rate to avoid spoilage. Shrink or loss of product over time must also be considered when evaluating high-moisture co-product usage. Liquid co-products stored in bulk tanks for long periods of time should be mixed on a regular basis to ensure a consistent product.

Availability
Availability of co-products must also be considered. Many co-products are available year-round, while others may only be available on a spot basis. The ability to make ration changes based on fluctuations of co-product availability and effect of ration changes on performance are key factors to consider when evaluating potential use of a co-product.

Nutrient Content and Variation
The nutrient content of many co-products can vary considerably from shipment to shipment and supplier to supplier. Representative samples should be taken on a regular basis and submitted to a feed analysis laboratory for nutrient analysis. Phosphorus is often high in co-products and can provide an economical source of phosphorus supplementation. However, excessive phosphorus in the ration will be voided in manure, which impacts manure application rate per acre. Consequently, phosphorus level in the diet should b carefully evaluated. Nutrient analysis can ensure diets are formulated in the most economical manner based on the nutrient profile of co-products.

Feeding Value
Consider the co-product’s relative feed value. A least-cost ration formulation can determine a co-product’s value in relation to other ingredients when energy values, such as NEg and NEm, are known. The feeding value of many common co-products has been determined through experimentation. Following is a brief discussion of some common co-products used in growing and finishing cattle rations and a summary of research findings.

Commonly Used Co-products:

Corn Gluten Feed Corn gluten feed (CGF) is a product of the wet milling industry, which provides high-fructose corn syrup. It is comprised of the portion of the kernel that remains after the starch, gluten, and germ have been removed. Corn gluten feed can be obtained in dry or wet forms. Dry CGF is manufactured by combining corn bran with steep liquor and drying. Wet CGF is made by pressing wet corn bran to approximately 35% dry matter. Research suggests wet or dry corn gluten feed can effectively replace up to 100% of dry-rolled corn on a DM basis in growing cattle diets containing greater than 50% roughage. When included in roughage-based diets, the value of wet corn gluten feed is equal to corn, but produces lower gains and reduced feed efficiencies when used to replace corn in high-concentrate, limit-fed growing rations.

The feeding value of corn gluten feed during the finishing phase of production can vary depending on form (wet vs. dry). Research conducted at the University of Illinois found steers fed wet CGF responded with a 7% reduction in DM intake yet had similar weight gains. This resulted in a 9% improvement in feed efficiency when compared to dry CGF. The University of Nebraska reported that wet corn gluten feed could be included in dry-rolled corn finishing diets at up to 50%, with a feeding value of 97% of corn. Dry corn gluten feed could be included at 25% of the diet, with a 97% value of corn. Kansas State University observed that up to 30% wet corn gluten feed could be included in steam-flaked corn diets fed to finishing steer without altering performance. Inclusions of 60% wet corn gluten feed in steam-flaked corn diets reduced gains and increased feed to gain ratios. Energy values of corn gluten feed appear to be between 95 to 100% of corn. Inclusion rates of wet corn gluten feed should not exceed 50% of the diet for dry-rolled corn diets and 30% for steam-flaked-based diets. Dry corn gluten feed inclusion rates in diets should not exceed 25%.

Wheat Middlings
Wheat middlings (WM) are a co-product of the flour milling industry. During processing, about 75% of the grain is milled into flour. The remaining 25% is available for use as co-products. Kansas State University has reported, based on feed efficiency data, WM has a feed value almost equal to corn and soybean meal when used in full-fed sorghum silage based growing rations, but had a value of 83% when used in limit-fed growing rations. When utilized in high-grain finishing rations, inclusion of WM should not exceed 10% of the diet. Reductions in ADG and feed efficiency with increasing inclusion of WM in the diets of finishing cattle have been reported. In other Kansas State University research, WM replacement of corn increased DMI and feed:gain ratio with increasing levels (5,10, and 15% WM), with a 9.2% increase in DMI and a 10.1% increase in feed efficiency observed at the 15% replacement level. In the same study, as WM replaced alfalfa hay, dry matter intake and calculated net energy intakes decreased linearly. Daily gain was similar among treatments and feed efficiency was non-significantly improved by 4.5% when WM replaced 100% of the alfalfa hay. Complete replacement of the roughage portion of the diet may not be advisable, as some long roughage is needed within the rumen to promote rumen health and maintain intake.

Dried Bakery Products
Dried bakery product (DBP) is comprised of a variety of commodities, such as hard and soft wheat products, pasta, potato chip waste, breakfast cereals, and other products. Research indicates DBPs have an energy value similar to corn. Dried bakery product should be limited to less than 30% of the diet. No differences in daily gain or feed efficiency were observed when DBP replaced dry-rolled corn in finishing steer diets at 15% or 30% of DM. However, DMI decreased 6.5% with the 30% inclusion rate.

Distiller Grains
Distillers grains and thin stillage are co-products of the corn fermentation process used to produce alcohol. Research indicates optimal dietary inclusion rates for distillers grains are between 16% and 30%. Iowa State reported that feeding 16% wet distillers grains (WDG) increased gain of finishing heifers compared to those fed control diets. Increasing the amount of WDG tended to decrease feed intake and reduce gain. The calculated net energy based on performance was highest for the 16% level of WDG. The calculated net energy value of WDG is 1.09 Mcal/lb NEg (dry matter basis). In a 1999 trial, a distillers grains inclusion rate of 30% of dietary DM (replacing dry-rolled corn) resulted in improved final weight, daily gain, feed efficiency, and hot carcass weight compared to controls.

Corn Steep Liquor and Distillers Solubles
Corn steep liquor is a co-product of the corn wet milling industry. Distillers solubles is a co-product of ethanol production. Research conducted by Iowa State University indicates that no significant differences in gain, feed efficiency, or intake were observed by feeding corn steep liquor at 10% of the dietary dry matter. The authors observed inclusion of the steep liquor reduced feed cost of gain from $37.05/cwt for controls to $33.75/cwt for steers fed steep liquor. In a 1997 study, condensed distillers solubles increased gain and improved fed efficiency of yearling heifers fed distillers solubles in place of corn and supplement. Net energy value based on performance of the condensed distillers solubles was 1.34 Mcal/lb dry matter or 1.9 times that of corn.

Summary
Co-products are and will continue to be used in significant amounts in cattle finishing diets. When priced competitively, co-products can be a viable alternative to conventional feedstuffs. Supplementation of diets utilizing co-products requires specific knowledge of co-products and will ultimately determine the success of a co-product feeding program.

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