Interpretive Summary: Pooled analysis on the effects of inclusion, moisture, and oil removal from distillers grains on cattle performance and economic returns in diets with different corn processing

By: Braden C Troyer, Elliott J Dennis, Alfredo DiCostanzo, Galen E Erickson

A pooled analysis of research was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn processing method, distillers grains type, oil removal from distillers, and distillers inclusion on cattle performance within studies conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln between 1992-2020. Two corn processing methods were included in the dataset, steam-flaked corn (SFC) or any combination of high-moisture (HMC) and dry-rolled corn (DRC), fed with and without distillers gains, a by-product of the dry milling ethanol industry. Distillers products were either wet, modified, or dry distillers grains plus solubles and were analyzed as both full fat and de-oiled products. Cattle performance resulting from feeding the six by-product combinations with both corn types was analyzed and then used to find the inclusion level that minimized the total feeding cost ($/head) given different corn prices and corn-to-distillers price ratios. Cattle had improved feed conversion when fed SFC compared with HMC:DRC in all diets. Cattle fed full-fat distillers grains had slightly improved feed conversions compared with de-oiled distillers grains. Cattle fed distillers grains diets had improved feed conversion compared with cattle fed control diets without distillers. Overall, feeding distillers grains in combination with either corn type offers benefits including improved feed conversions, lower finishing costs, and reduced reliance on supplemental protein sources compared to a diet without distillers.