11/9/22, 4:55 PM By-products for Cattle

By-products for Cattle

Byproducts of crop and human food production are valuable feed sources for beef producers.

Updated: July 2, 2012

Cattle can consume ethanol byproducts, like distillers grains.

Corn Gluten Feed

Corn gluten feed is a co-product of the wet milling process for corn. Corn grain is soaked in a weak solution of sulfurous acid for a couple of
days, with the steep liquor containing amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and simple sugars. The grain is then ground to separate the fiber
(bran) portion from the starch portion of the grain, and the bran is filtered from the starch and oil portions. The bran is then mixed with the
steep liquor in a 2:1 mixture and flash dried to produce dry corn gluten feed (DGF). The wet product is also a valuable feed source, but the
cost of transportation of the water and storage issues will offset the drying costs for most beef producers.

As with most milling co-products there is considerable variation in the feed value for cattle due to differences in milling facilities and
protocol efficiency. The following table shows a comparison of "typical" DGF with corn and soybean meal:

Item DGF Corn Soybean Meal

Dry Matter % 92 89 89

ME. Mcal/kg 3.25 3.42 3.29

https://extension.psu.edu/by-products-for-cattle 1/5
11/9/22, 4:55 PM By-products for Cattle

Item DGF Corn Soybean Meal

Starch % 18 70

NDF % 42 9 14

Crude protein % 22 10 49

CA % 0.2 0.03 0.3

P% 0.8 0.3 0.7

The concentration of protein and P in DGF provides both advantages and disadvantages for cattle feeders. The Ca:P ratio can be 1:10, so
additional amounts of Ca will need to be included in the diet to get the ratio to the appropriate 1:1.5 Ca:P ratio. Research results show that
when diets have the same level of energy, DGF is approximately equal to soybean meal to supply protein requirements in the diet. Dry corn
gluten feed has also been found to be superior to soybean meal as a protein supplement for young cattle grazing lower quality forages.

Corn has a slightly higher energy content than DGF, but differences in the ability of the cow to digest fiber renders DGF with a similar
digestible energy value in diets. Extensive trials have shown DGF in corn silage diets up to a 60% replacement rate of corn did not
significantly change weight gain or feed efficiency. Most trials show an advantage of soybean meal/corn/corn silage diets compared to
those in which corn is replaced with DGF. Replacement of corn with DGF above 40% of the diet tended to reduce feed efficiency
consistently. A limited number of studies have been done with grass hay as the roughage source, and no significant differences in weight
gain and feed efficiency were found when DGF was fed at 40% of the diet compared to diets with 40% corn.

Sample Rations with DGF

Weaned and backgrounded calves: 500 lbs.
Ad lib dry grass hay
2-4 lbs. DGF/head/day

Replacement heifers 600 lbs.

Ad lib grass hay
3-5 lbs. DGF/head/day

Ad lib legume hay

2-3 lbs. DGF/head/day

Cows: late gestation; body condition score 5 or less

Ad lib grass hay
4-6 lbs. DGF/head/day

Ad lib legume hay

2-4 lbs. DGF/head/day

40 lbs. corn silage (as fed)

2-4 lbs. DGF/head/day

Feedlot steers and heifers 800 lbs.

https://extension.psu.edu/by-products-for-cattle 2/5
11/9/22, 4:55 PM By-products for Cattle

45 lbs. corn silage (as fed)

7 lbs. DGF or 3 lbs. corn +3 lbs. DGF

20 lbs corn silage (as fed)

18 lbs. DGF/head/day or 13 lbs. DGF + 5 lbs. corn head/day or 9 lbs. DGF + 9 lbs. corn/head/day

20 lbs. grass hay or 40 lbs.haylage

15 lbs. DGF

Distillers Dried Grains

The fermentation process that produces ethanol from corn grain results in a grain-based co-product that is low in starch, but has a
concentrated, highly digestible fiber, protein, and mineral content. About one-third of the dry matter of corn entering the fermentation
process results in a wet distillers grain that is flash dried or centrifuged to produce dried distillers grains (DDG). Wet DG is also a valuable
feed source, but the cost of transportation of the water and storage issues will offset the drying costs for most beef producers.

As with most milling co-products there is considerable variation in the feed value for cattle due to differences in fermentation facilities and
protocol efficiency. The distinct advantage of DDG in cattle diets is the greater digestibility in diets containing lower quality forages. When
corn grain is added to high forage diets at increasing levels there is lower intake and digestibility of the forage because the rumen bacteria
preferentially digest the starch in the corn. With DDG there is little starch present and the forage is more highly digested. This advantage is
most pronounced in weaned calves, stocker and backgrounded cattle, and in developing replacement heifers where animal performance is
more efficiently enhanced with high forage diets. The following table compares the "typical" nutrient values for DDG, corn, and soybean
meal.

Item DDG Corn Soybean meal

Dry Matter % 90 89 89

ME Mcal/kg 3.49 3.42 3.29

Starch % 14 70

NDF % 43 9 14

Crude protein % 29 10 49

CA % 0.3 0.03 0.3

P% 0.8 0.3 0.7

The concentration of minerals in DDG includes P and sulphur (S). Although S is required by ruminal microorganisms, high levels may cause
polioencephalomalacia, reduce DMI and ADG, and reduce liver Cu stores. This feature may be enhanced by high S levels in drinking water.
Declining DMI at DGS inclusion levels above 30 to 40% may be partially explained by S, lipid, or both in the DGS (Klopfenstein, et al.,
2008). The Ca:P ratio can be 1:10, so additional amounts of Ca will need to be included in the diet to get the ratio to the appropriate 1:1.5
Ca:P ratio.

Sample Rations with DDG

https://extension.psu.edu/by-products-for-cattle 3/5
11/9/22, 4:55 PM By-products for Cattle

Weaned and backgrounded calves: 500 lbs.

Ad lib dry grass hay
2-4 lbs. DDG/head/day

Replacement heifers 600 lbs.

Ad lib grass hay
3-5 lbs. DDG/head/day

Ad lib legume hay

1-2 lbs. DDG/head/day

Cows: late gestation; body condition score 5 or less

Ad lib grass hay
4-6 lbs. DDG/head/day

Ad lib legume hay

2-3 lbs. DDG/head/day

40 lbs. corn silage (as fed)

2-3 lbs. DDG/head/day

Feedlot steers and heifers 800 lbs.

45 lbs. corn silage (as fed)
7 lbs. DDG or 3 lbs. corn +3 lbs. DDG

20 lbs corn silage (as fed)

18 lbs. DDG/head/day or 13 lbs. DDG + 5 lbs. corn head/day or 9 lbs. DDG + 9 lbs. corn/head/day

20 lbs. grass hay or 40 lbs.haylage

15 lbs. DDG

Glycerin
Glycerin is a 3-carbon sugar that is a by-product of the biodiesel production process. It can be an effective feedstuff for cattle because they
have the ability to use it as an energy source. However, very little research has been done with glycerin in cattle diets.

Four studies have been completed that indicate the potential value of glycerin in cattle diets. Pyatt et el (2007) showed glycerin can replace
up to 20% of the corn in cattle finishing diets when corn was fed alone or when DDG replaced half of the corn. Glycerin supplementation
increased daily weight gain and significantly increased feed efficiency in corn and corn+DDG diets (21.9% and 16.4%, respectively). A
second study from Wyoming used glycerin to replace corn in a corn/soybean meal supplement at the rate of 15% glycerin for growing
heifers on a grass hay-based diet. Average daily gain was slightly lower for the glycerin supplement (2.76 lbs./day for corn/soy and 2.57
lbs. day for glycerin/corn/soy). Coffey at the University of Arkansas fed either corn or crude glycerin at 0.25% of body weight to steers
grazing wheat pastures. Again, weight gain was slightly less (3.7 lbs./day for corn and 3.4 lbs./day for glycerin). Another Wyoming study
showed that the digestibility of a grass-hay-based diet decreased as glycerin was added from zero to 30% of the diet, while a similar study
showed there was little difference in digestibility when glycerin was added from zero to 15% of the diet.

https://extension.psu.edu/by-products-for-cattle 4/5
11/9/22, 4:55 PM By-products for Cattle

It appears glycerin can be used as an effective replacement for corn in corn-based diets for both finishing and growing cattle. However,
there may be a limit to the amount in the diet that will be effective, and further intake may be detrimental. Significant further research is
needed before rations can be recommended that will make the optimum use of glycerin.

Prepared by Dr. John Comerford, retired extension beef specialist. The following article originally appeared in Farming: The Journal of
Northeast Agriculture(http://www.FarmingMagazine.com).

https://extension.psu.edu/by-products-for-cattle 5/5