PSXIII-17 Evaluation of supplementation of an extruded dried distillers grains plus solubles cube provided three times weekly versus daily on performance of steers grazing Bermudagrass pastures.

Dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) are an energy-rich byproduct of ethanol production. Although DDGS supplementation may increase animal performance during the grazing season, providing supplemental feed may be labor intensive. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of steers grazing bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) receiving DDGS cubes three times weekly versus daily supplementation. A total of 60 crossbred beef steers (249.6 ± 0.73 kg) were shipped from a nearby contract facility to the Southwest Research and Extension Center Stocker Unit (Hope, AR). Prior to the start of the treatment period, steers were allowed to graze bermudagrass pastures. Animals were dewormed, received an implant, and weighed before the study began. Steers were stratified by weight and assigned to one of three treatment groups: 1) no DDGS supplementation (0X; n = 5 pastures), 2) DDGS cubes supplemented three times a week (3X; n = 5 pastures), or 3) DDGS cubes supplemented daily (7X; n = 5 pastures). Treatments were administered over an 84-d period between July and October with DDGS offered to 3X steers at a rate of 1.2% BW and 7X steers at a rate of 0.6% BW. Cattle had ad libitum access to loose mineral throughout the study. Steer body weights (BW) were recorded individually on d 0 and d 84 and on a pen-basis on d 28 and d 56. Steer BW and average daily gain (ADG) were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with treatment as a fixed effect and block as a random effect. Steers not receiving DDGS supplementation served as a control. Initial steer BW did not differ between treatments (P = 0.41). However, there was a tendency (P = 0.08) for greater BW of steers receiving the 3X (281.8 kg) and 7X (282.13 kg) treatments relative to 0X (275.1 kg) at d 28. At d 56 (P ≤ 0.008) and d 84 (P ≤ 0.001), 3X and 7X treatment groups were heavier than 0X. Similar trends were noted for ADG. Between d 0 and 28, 3X and 7X steers tended (P = 0.06) to gain more than 0X steers. Between d 0 and 56 (P = 0.004) and d 0 and 84 (P = 0.001), 3X and 7X steers gained more than 0X steers. Preliminary results indicate that steers grazing bermudagrass pastures with supplementation of DDGS resulted in greater animal gains no matter the number of days supplemented.