Effects of Alternate Day Feeding of Dried Distiller’s Grains Plus Solubles and Grass Hay on Metabolism and Performance in Cattle

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to determine the effects of supplementing dried distiller's grains plus solubles (DDGS) on alternate days to forage-fed cattle. We hypothesized that feeding either DDGS at a low percent of body weight or a moderate to low quality hay on alternate days would decrease forage intake without negatively impacting rumen kinetics and digestibility in steers as well as body weight and body composition in gestating cows. Therefore the objective of these research trials was to examine the effects of alternate day feeding of DDGS and grass hay on ruminal and digestion kinetics in Holstein steers (EXP. 1) and performance in gestating beef cows (EXP. 2). In both research experiments a decrease of total forage DMI was observed (EXP. 1; P = 0.0004 and EXP. 2; P < 0.0001) for cattle allotted to the alternate day feeding of DDGS and grass hay.