Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Wet Distillers Grains on Feedlot Performance of Finishing Cattle and Energy Value Relative to Corn

An experiment evaluated the effects of six dietary inclusions of wet distillers grain plus solubles (WDGS) on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of yearling steers, and also evaluated the energy value of WDGS relative to corn. Treatments consisted of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% (DM basis) dietary inclusion of WDGS. Final BW, DMI, and ADG increased quadratically, while feed: gain decreased quadratically as WDGS inclusion increased from 0 to 50% of DM. No differences in carcass characteristics were observed among treatments. Energy value of WDGS relative to corn was above 100% for all inclusion levels and decreased (178 to 121%) as dietary WDGS inclusion increased, (10 to 50% of DM). Results indicate that WDGS can be used effectively in finishing diets, with optimum performance being observed at 30 to 40% dietary inclusion.