Dried Distillers Grains and(or) Soybean Hulls to Background Beef Calves Fed Bahiagrass Forage

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementing dried distillers grains soybean hulls, or combinations of the two to growing beef steers consuming bahiagrass hay. Angus steers were randomly allotted to one of four supplement treatments. Treatments included: 1) dried distillers grains; 2) dried distillers grains/soybean hulls; 3) soybean hulls/distillers grains; 4) soybean hulls. Supplements were formulated to be isoenergetic, and steers were individually supplemented via a Calan Gate system for 42 d. All steers were allowed ad libitum access to bahiagrass hay. Supplement treatment had no effect on final bodyweight. From d 0 to 14, average daily gain (ADG) of dried distillers grains supplemented steers was 0.59 lb/d less compared to any treatments containing soybean hulls. Across all 42 d, ADG of soybean hull supplemented steers was less than the combinations of dried distillers grains and soybean hulls, but was not different than steers supplemented with dried distillers grains only. Plasma glucose concentrations were not different between supplement treatments. On d 0, plasma urea nitrogen concentration did not differ between treatments. However, on d 14, 28, and 42 the plasma urea nitrogen concentrations of steers offered supplements containing dried distillers grains were greater compared to steers offered supplements containing soybean hulls. Supplementing steers consuming bahiagrass hay with a combination of co-products resulted in improved ADG gain and nitrogen metabolism. The combination of 2.11 lb of dried distillers grains and 4.52 lb of soybean hulls optimized calf performance.