Corn stover and distillers grains for lactating drylot beef cows V.L. Anderson1, B.R. Ilse2 and C.L. Engel1

cow production. The preferred uti- This project evaluated the use of corn stover and distillers grains lization of stover is by postharvest as the primary ingredients in lactating beef cow diets. The control grazing in the fall and early winter. diet included corn silage, wheat middlings, barley hulls and straw Harvesting corn stover in large bales as the primary feeds. Cow performance and calf growth appear to be is highly weather dependent but similar for both diets in this nonreplicated field study. The daily feed makes year-round use of stover for feed possible. cost was lower for the stover-distillers grain diet at $1.71/head vs. Drylot cow-calf production is $2.22 for the control diet. a new concept in beef production that is increasingly viewed as an option as the cost of rental pastures Summary research is needed to understand or purchasing grazing land escalate Beef cows can be fed a variety the value of corn stover and give beyond economic thresholds. A of feeds as long as nutrient require- producers confidence in using corn separate article in this publication ments are met. With the increase stover-distillers grain rations for addresses drylot vs. pasture beef in corn acres, corn stover is more lactating cows. production. available and may be a useful feed An integrated crop-livestock for beef cows. Distillers grain is Introduction production system has the advan- produced at several ethanol plants North Dakota livestock enter- tages of maximizing biological in North Dakota and has been a prises are primarily beef cow-calf efficiencies such as stover and straw very competitively priced energy operations. Cow numbers continue used as feed or bedding, and return- and protein source for livestock. to decrease here and nationally as ing manure to the fields. Ruminant Spring-calving, mature crossbred a result of drought and the fact that animals help diversify the North beef cows managed in drylot during more grazing land is being farmed Dakota agricultural economy and the summer were fed a ration of for corn, soybeans and other profit- can add to the net profit of an appro- primarily corn stover and distillers able crops. The high cost of conven- priately managed integrated crop- grain compared with corn silage, tional feed ingredients also has been livestock farming operation. wheat middlings, barley hulls and a factor in reducing cow numbers, straw. Cows fed the control diet yet underutilized and undervalued Experimental Procedures lost 57 pounds while cows fed the feed resources are available to live- Crossbred spring-calving Red stover-distillers grain diet lost 90 stock producers in North Dakota. Angus x Red Simmental mature beef pounds during the 92-day study. Feed resources in the region cow-calf pairs (n = 42) were allotted Calves gained 2.57 and 2.73 pounds, include crop residues, grains and to one of two drylot ration treat- respectively, for the control and sto- nearly 3 million tons of a variety of ments based on calf birth date. The ver-distillers grain diets. Condition coproducts produced each year in treatments were: 1) corn stover and score decreased by 1 for the control North Dakota. The market price for distillers grains as the primary feed and 1.1 for the stover-distillers grain many coproducts may decrease in ingredients and 2) corn silage, straw, cows during the summer feeding the summer due to reduced demand wheat middlings and barley hulls as period. The daily ration cost was as more cattle are grazing vs. fed in the control diet (T able 1), with nu- $1.71 per head for the stover-distill- confinement. trient composition listed in Table 2. ers grain treatment and $2.22 for the Distillers grain often is very The two diets were balanced to control ration with corn silage. More competitively priced as an energy meet or exceed the nutrient require- and protein source. Corn stover is ments of lactating beef cows of 1 Carrington Research Extension Center, increasing in availability with corn average milking ability according NDSU production migrating north, and it is to NRC (National Research Council, 2Big Horn County Extension office, becoming a primary forage for beef Montana State University 1996), specifically a 0.56 megacalo-

4 2013 North Dakota Beef Report rie (Mcal)/pound of net energy for Table 1. Rations for lactating drylot beef cows with stover and distillers grain. maintenance (NEm) and 9.27 per- Diet treatments Diet Treatments cent crude protein requirement for Stover/ Stover/ cows during the months of lactation Distillers Distillers in this trial. Control Grain Control Grain The control diet contained ap- Lb/hd/day, as fed Percent, DM basis proximately 0.56 Mcal NEm per Bunk fed as mixed ration pound and 9.87 percent crude pro- Corn silage 24.23 30.31 tein, with the stover-distillers grain Wheat/pea straw, ground 6.77 18.86 ration providing 0.57 Mcal NEm per Barley hulls 7.71 24.78 pound and 10.82 percent crude pro- Wheat midds 7.71 23.93 tein. These values are based on feed Ionophore/min supplement 0.52 0.47 2.12 2.28 delivered to the bunk and estimated Corn stover, ground 10.35 43.71 intake (and waste) of the free-choice Modified distillers grains 11.35 30.47 forages. Mixed hay, ground 5.21 23.54 Ration ingredients were mixed Offered free choice, estimate in a truck-mounted Knight “Little of intake Augie” three-auger mixer wagon Wheat/pea straw 8.38 and delivered to fence-line bunks Corn stover 28.34 once daily. A portion of the straw Total 55.32 55.72 100 100 and stover was ground and mixed with other ingredients fed in the bunk line. Cows were allowed 3 feet of fence-line bunk space per head. Table 2. Ration specifications for lactating drylot beef cows Free-choice straw or stover was fed a control ration vs. corn stover and distillers grain. offered as large, round bales placed Diet Treatments in ring feeders in respective treat- Control Stover/Distillers Grain ments. In this study, actual feed costs NEm, Mcal/lb. 0.56 0.57 were used for purchased ingredi- Crude protein, % 9.87 10.82 ents, including delivery and farm- Feed cost/hd/day, $ 2.22 1.71 raised feeds, and the feeds were valued according to production costs reported in the North Dakota Farm Business Management Pro- Table 3. Performance of drylot cow-calf pairs fed a control ration vs. gram (Metzger and Hanson, 2012). corn stover and distillers grain. Feed costs used include: corn si- Diet Treatments lage,$50/ton; straw, $35/ton; barley Control Stover/Distillers Grain hulls, $80/ton; wheat midds, $234/ ton; corn stover, $40/ton for ground Cow weight, lb. stover and $35/ton for bales fed; Initial wt., June 21 1,540 1,500 Final wt., Sept. 20 1,483 1,410 modified distillers grain, $116/ton; Weight change -57 -90 and grass hay, $85/ton. Cows and calves were moni- Cow condition score Initial 6.2 5.9 tored daily at feeding for any health Final 5.3 4.8 issues, with no unusual problems Change -1.0 -1.1 observed. Cows were bred by Percent pregnant 86 86 natural-service sires for 45 days. Bulls were tested for fertility and Calf weight, lb. passed a breeding soundness exam Initial wt., June 21 287 304 Final wt., Sept. 20 521 552 prior to use. Creep feed (16 percent Gain 234 248 crude protein) was offered to all Avg. daily gain 2.57 2.73 calves starting in late June at equal

2013 North Dakota Beef Report 5 amounts per head daily. The study higher for the stover-distillers grain More replications of this trial started on June 21 (80 days post- treatment at 2.73 vs. 2.57 pounds per and other nutrition and manage- partum) and concluded on Sept. 20, head daily for the control ration. The ment studies with corn stover and 2012, when all drylot calves were small numerical increase may be a distillers grains are needed to give weaned. result of bypass protein from distill- cow-calf producers confidence in the ers grain, but greater weight loss use of these ingredients for drylot Results and Discussion suggests milk production potential management of lactating beef cows. Feed intake and nutrient content might have been greater than “aver- appear to be similar for both diets age,” as described in NRC (1996). Acknowledgments and meet the nutrient requirements Meeting nutrient requirements to The authors thank the technical for lactating beef cows in this study. ensure breeding success and subse- and administrative staff for their Cows fed the stover-distillers grain quent performance is critical. contributions to this study. Appreci- diet lost 90 pounds during the trial Feed cost favored the stover- ation is also expressed to the North period, while control cows lost only distillers grain diet, but ingredient Dakota Corn Utilizations Council 57 pounds. Condition score changes costs can vary widely. Eighty-six for funding to support this study. reflect weight loss with a decrease percent of cows in both groups were of 1 and 1.1, respectively, for control diagnosed as pregnant at palpation Literature Cited and stover-distillers grain treat- in the fall. From this field trial data, Metzger, Steve, and Jory Hanson. 2012. ments. feeding a ration of primarily corn North Dakota Farm Business Man- The weight loss and decrease in stover and distillers grain appears agement Report. National Research Council. 1996. Nutri- to support satisfactory cow perfor- condition score are not unusual for ent Requirements of Beef Cattle. 7th this stage of production. Cows were mance and calf growth. Pregnancy Revised Edition. National Academy still in adequate condition at wean- rates were relatively low but similar of Science. Washington, D.C. ing. Calf gains were numerically between treatments.

6 2013 North Dakota Beef Report