Effects Of Supplementation Of Dried Distillers Grains With Solubles To Beef Steers Grazing Coastal Bermudagrass On Performance On Pasture And In Feedlot, And Carcass Characteristics

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the influence of varying levels of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) supplemented daily on the performance of beef stocker cattle grazing Coastal bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pastures.Materials and Methods: Steers (n = 127, 342 +/- 5.6 kg of BW) were stratified by BW and breed type and randomly allocated to 9 pastures (1.3 +/- 0.17 ha) during each summer of 2 yr (2014, 2015). Pastures were allocated randomly to 1 of 3 treatments, including 2 daily levels of a DDGS supplement (SUPP; 0.25 or 1% BW) and a nonsupplemented control (PAS) for 96 d in 2014 and 92 d in 2015. Steers were shipped approximately 700 km to a commercial feedlot for the finishing phase. Finally, animals were transported less than 100 km for slaughter at a commercial abattoir.Results and Discussion: Steer ADG on pasture tended to increase quadratically (P = 0.06) from 0.67 kg/d from PAS to 1.01 kg/d from 1% BW SUPP. Gain per hectare increased linearly (P < 0.01) from 450 kg of BW/ha from PAS to 555 kg of BW/ha from 0.25% BW SUPP and 952 kg of BW/ha from 1% BW SUPP. Increasing SUPP on pasture had no effect (P = 0.22) on feedlot ADG or carcass traits (P > 0.36).Implications and Applications: Supplementation of steers with 1% BW DDGS resulted in the most efficient management strategy.