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.

A synthesis of data including over 9,300 head of cattle and over 980 pen means was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn processing method, distillers grains type, oil removal from distillers, and dietary distillers concentration on cattle performance and total feeding costs under different historical price scenarios. The corn processing method was either steam-flaked corn, high-moisture or dry-rolled corn or a blend of the latter two and their effects on performance with and without distillers grains. Wet, modified, and dry distillers were analyzed as either full fat or de-oiled products in diets at various dietary concentrations with either corn type to determine cattle performance. Performance estimates were used to determine the inclusion level that minimized total finishing costs ($/head) for each diet given various assumptions on corn price, corn-to-distillers price ratio, supplemental protein cost, and steam flake processing cost. Feeding distillers grains in steam-flaked or high-moisture and dry-rolled corn diets resulted in improved feed conversion and reduced cattle feeding costs, including lower supplemental protein costs and lower total feeding costs compared with a diet without distillers. However, feeding diets with steam-flaked corn improved feed conversion regardless of distillers type or level of inclusion. Feeding full fat distillers improved feed conversion relative to de-oiled distillers. Cattle fed de-oiled distillers were more efficient than those fed diets containing no distillers grains. At all corn price and corn-to-distillers price ratios examined, feeding some level of distillers of any type produced a lower total feeding costs relative to a diet without distillers. Different robustness tests were conducted to determine the impact of varying steam flake corn processing costs and the cost of supplemental protein on the optimal level of distillers inclusion level. The break-even cost a producer could pay for steam-flaking corn varied but was significantly higher when corn price was high. Feeding distillers grains in steam-flaked or high-moisture and dry-rolled corn diets resulted in improved feed efficiency, reduced cattle feeding costs, including replacement of other supplemental protein and associated costs compared to a diet without distillers grains.