Interaction Between Roughages and Corn Milling Byproducts in Finishing Cattle Diets

During ethanol production, starch is the primary nutrient fermented and the remaining byproducts are excellent sources of fiber and protein. In addition, inclusion of byproducts in finishing diets may reduce the incidence of acidosis. As a result, roughage level and quality could potentially be reduced in finishing diets containing byproducts. Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of roughage and wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) in finishing cattle diets containing corn distillers grains plus solubles. Cattle fed finishing diets containing wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) with no roughage had decreased DMI and ADG compared to cattle fed roughage. Within roughage level, ADG was similar for cattle fed alfalfa hay, corn silage or corn stalks when included on an equal NDF basis. Apparent total tract digestibility of OM, NDF, and CP linearly decreased and ruminal pH variables increased linearly due to increasing roughage levels. Roughage sources can be exchanged on an equal NDF basis in beef finishing diets containing 30% WDGS (DM basis). In finishing diets containing modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS), DMI linearly increased due to increasing roughage levels but ADG responded quadratically and was lowest for cattle fed diets without roughage. There was also a quadratic response for DMI and ADG due to WCGF inclusion level. Gain:feed decreased linearly with increasing roughage and WCGF inclusion levels. Feeding 15% WCGF resulted in similar cattle performance and carcass traits to cattle fed no WCGF in diets containing 30% MDGS, but cattle fed diets with 60% total byproduct inclusion made up of 30% WCGF and 30% MDGS had reduced performance (DM basis). Additionally, reducing corn silage inclusion level to 7.5% resulted in similar finishing cattle performance and carcass traits to cattle fed 15% corn silage in diets containing 30% MDGS with or without inclusion of WCGF. Elimination of roughage in diets containing either WDGS or MDGS resulted in negative impacts on finishing cattle performance, ruminal metabolism, and carcass traits.

Co-Product Prices May Be Nearing Seasonal Low

The supply of corn milling co-products from ethanol production has increased rapidly over the last several years. Based on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) projections of corn ground for ethanol production, approximately 38 million tons of distillers grains would have been produced in the 2009-10 marketing year, with 40 million tons projected for the 2010-11 marketing year. While supply has grown, so too has demand from both domestic and international users. Cattle feeders in particular have found wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS), modified wet distillers grains plus solubles (MWDGS) and dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) to be excellent feedstuffs that can lower cost of gain through performance efficiencies and lower ingredient costs. United States swine and poultry producers have also increasingly adopted DDGS in rations in response to higher corn prices, while international shipments of DDGS have also grown.

Cellulosic Ethanol: The Benifits, Obstacles, and Implications for Nebraska

Abstract Ethanol is a biofuel that has unique capabilities to mitigate global climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously supporting rural economies and decreasing the United States’ dependence on foreign oil. Currently, the state of Nebraska depends on corn ethanol, which may be unsustainable. Cellulosic ethanol is a promising alternative but it is not without its problems, including high production costs and potential environmental damage. This thesis is an attempt to understand the benefits, downfalls, and processes of corn-based and cellulosic ethanol and the potential implications to Nebraska. This research should shed some light on the current obstacles and environmental problems involved with production, as well as evaluate the potential economic benefits to Nebraska, while pointing out issues that should be further researched before implementation.