U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Dairy Forage Research: Madison, WI
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Midwest Area Madison, Wisconsin U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center Dairy Forage Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            RANATHUNGA, SANJEEWA - South Dakota State Universityitem
                                            Kalscheur, Kennethitem
                                            GARCIA, ALVARO - South Dakota State Universityitem
                                            SCHINGOETHE, DAVID - South Dakota State University
  Submitted to: Professional Animal Scientist
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2018
                                    Publication  Date: 8/1/2018
                                    Citation: Ranathunga, S.D., Kalscheur, K., Garcia, A.D., Schingoethe, D.J. 2018. Fermentation characteristics and feeding value of ensiled wet corn distillers grains in combination with wet beet pulp. Professional Animal Scientist. 34(4):346-355. https://doi.org/10.15232/pas.2018-01727.DOI: https://doi.org/10.15232/pas.2018-01727                                                              
                                Interpretive Summary: Non-forage fiber sources can partially replace conventional forages in dairy rations to lower feed costs or during times when forages are limiting.  Both wet distillers grains and wet beet pulp are by-products of agricultural processing.  Both can be effective non-forage fiber sources in cow diets, however storage of wet co-products can be challenging. This experiment evaluated the effectiveness of ensiling wet distillers grains with wet beet pulp in different ratios, and then it evaluated the ensiled blends as a substitute for forage in lactating dairy cow diets. Ensiling is an effective method of preserving wet distillers grains and wet beet pulp both alone or blended together. The low initial pH for all treatments and increased acetic acid over time suggested that preservation was enhanced by ensiling the two feeds together. Blends of wet distillers grains and wet beet pulp fed in dairy cow diets as a substitution for alfalfa haylage increased milk production and milk protein yield. Although milk fat percentage was reduced for the ensiled blends, milk fat production was the same. This research demonstrated that ensiled wet distillers grains and wet beet pulp as a source of nonforage fiber is an effective alternative feedstuff for lactating dairy cow diets when forages are limiting.
                                Technical Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the fermentation characteristics of ensiled wet corn distillers grains (WDG) alone or with wet beet pulp (WBP). The feeding value of the ensiled blends as a non-forage fiber source in substitution for forage fiber in lactating dairy cow diets was also evaluated. Combination of WDG and WBP were ensiled during the first experiment as follows: 1) 100:0 of WDG:WBP (DG100), 2) 67:33 of WDG:WBP (DG67), 3) 33:67 of WDG:WBP (DG33), and 4) 0:100 of WDG:WBP (DG0). Samples were collected at days 0, 4, 8, 21 and 112 for analysis. The initial pH was lowest for DG100 and increased (P<0.05) as concentration of WDG decreased. Dry matter of the feedstuffs prior to ensiling was 330, 302, 265, and 231 g/kg for 100DG, DG67, DG33, and DG0, respectively. Lactic acid prior to ensiling was greatest for DG100 and decreased as WBP was included in the treatments. Acetic acid prior to ensiling was highest for DG0 and decreased with progressive inclusion of WDG in the treatments. Acetic acid increased over time in all treatments, and was highest for the DG0.  The low initial pH for all treatments and the increased acetic acid over time, suggested preservation of both feeds was enhanced by ensiling them together. In the second experiment, nine cows with 92 ± 4 DIM were used in a 3×3 Latin square with 3-wk feeding periods. Experimental diets were: 1) control diet which contained 99 and 255 g/kg of DM of corn silage and alfalfa hay with 172 g/kg DM alfalfa haylage; 2) treatment 1 (HWDG) which contained 106 and 273 g/kg of DM of corn silage and alfalfa hay with 246 g/kg DM of a DG67 blend substituted alfalfa haylage and 3) treatment 2 (LWDG) which contained 99 and 255 g/kg of DM of corn silage and alfalfa hay with 217 g/kg DM of a DG33 blend substituted alfalfa haylage. Dry matter intake (24.7 kg/d) was similar for all diets. Cows fed HWDG and LWDG produced more milk (39.2 and 38.0 vs 35.7 kg/d) when compared to control. Milk fat percentage decreased for cows fed HWDG and LWDG compared to control (31.0 and 31.1 vs. 36.0 g/kg), however milk fat yield did not differ among treatments. Cows fed HWDG and LWDG tended to have higher milk protein concentration compared to control (32.4 and 32.8 vs. 31.8 g/kg). Also, milk protein yields were higher (1.2 and 1.3 vs. 1.1 kg/d) for cows fed HWDG and LWDG. These results suggest that blends of WDG and WBP can substitute for alfalfa haylage in dairy cow diets while increasing total milk production and milk protein yield.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov