Effect of Wet and Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles and Supplemental Fat Level on Performance of Yearling Finishing Cattle

Two finishing trials were conducted to compare the addition of fat from either wet or dry distillers byproducts (WDGS; DDGS) to that provided from one of two commercially available fat sources (corn oil, Trial 1; tallow, Trial 2). In Trial 1, feed conversion and ADG decreased linearly as level of corn oil increased, while feed conversion and ADG were improved numerically as the level of WDGS increased in the diet. In Trial 2, no differences in performance were observed comparing cattle fed dry distillers grains plus solubles to cattle fed diets containing tallow. WDGS provided 12 and 17% more net energy for gain when fed at 20 and 40% of the diet compared to a dry rolled/high moisture corn mix.