September 16, 2009
US researchers find WDGS as high quality, low cost feed
Wet distiller's grain with solubles, or WDGS, may be an inexpensive alternative to traditional livestock feed ingredients, according to studies by the Agricultural Research Services (ARS).
WDGS is a common ethanol byproduct that could replace more costly traditional feed ingredients such as corn, soymeal, urea, and mineral supplements. WDGS typically costs about 10-percent less than corn when used as livestock feed.
In feed trial studies, steers fed diets of 20 to 40 percent WDGS were found performing as well or better than a cattle group that did not receive the WDGS.
Another study found no significant different in heat production between cattle fed 0, 20, 40, or 60 percent WDGS, though there is a lower energy utilisation efficiency at the highest rate which could reduce feedlot performance.
On meat quality, feeding a diet of 20 or 40 percent WDGS produced carcasses that were the same or better for yield and quality traits than carcasses of cattle that did not eat the WDGS.
Cattle fed 60 percent WDGS diets were lighter, leaner, less marbled, and had lower yield grades than cattle in the groups that consumed lower quantities of WDGS or none at all.
Microbiologist Vince Varel confirmed that as the concentration of WDGS increased in the diet, greater concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur appeared in manure, mostly due to excess crude protein.
