Effects of Corn Processing Method and Protein Concentration in Finishing Diets Containing Wet Corn Gluten Feed on Cattle Performance

Three hundred twenty crossbred steer calves (308 kg) were used to determine the effects of corn processing and addition of urea on performance with diets containing wet corn gluten feed (WCGF). The treatment design was a 5 × 2 factorial with factors of corn processing (dryrolled, DRC; fine-ground, FGC; rolled high-moisture, RHMC; ground high-moisture, GHMC; or steam-flaked corn, SFC) and CP concentration (14 or 15%) with 4 pens per treatment and 8 steers per pen. The final diet contained 60% corn, 25% WCGF, 10% corn silage, and 5% supplement (DM basis). No significant protein × grain processing interactions occurred for feedlot performance or carcass variables. Steers fed DRC and FGC had 1A contribution of the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research Division, Lincoln, NE 68583. Journal Series No. 14361. This research was supported in part by funds provided through the Hatch Act. 2Present address: 2603 Riverview Drive, Grand Island, NE 68801. 3To whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected] similar DMI, but greater (P < 0.01) DMI, than those fed RHMC, GHMC, or SFC. Intakes were similar among cattle fed RHMC, GHMC, and SFC. Daily gain was similar among all treatments. Gain/ feed was significantly different among the processing treatments, except between RHMC and GHMC. Gain:feed was increased (P < 0.01) 3.8, 7.0, 8.7, or 11.8% for steers fed FGC, RHMC, GHMC, or SFC, respectively, compared with steers fed DRC. Calculated NEg was increased (P < 0.01) 5.1, 10.3, 10.9, and 15.4% for FGC, RHMC, GHMC, and SFC, respectively, compared with DRC. Protein concentration had no effect on performance, suggesting protein requirements were met at the lesser concentration of protein. Based on these results, when feedlot diets contain 25% WCGF, more intense processing of corn (i.e., high-moisture corn or SFC) improves feed efficiency compared with less intense methods.