Effect of Feeding a By-product Combination Consisting of Wet Distillers Grains and Wet Corn Gluten Feed to Feedlot Cattle

Two-hundred-and-eighty yearling steers were used to evaluate effects of increasing levels of a corn milling byproduct combination (Blend) (50% wet corn gluten feed, 50% wet distillers grains; DM basis) and different alfalfa hay levels on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Levels of Blend were 0%, 25%, 50% or 75% diet DM. Alfalfa level was either kept constant at 7.5% of DM or the forage level decreased, i.e., 7.5%, 5.0%, 2.5%, and 0% alfalfa for the 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% Blend, respectively. Steer DMI, ADG, and F:G responded quadratically (P<0.05), with the greatest ADG and improved at 25% and 50% blend. These results suggest that feeding a 50:50 combination of wet corn gluten feed and wet distillers grains for up to 50% of a diet will enhance cattle performance.