An Evaluation of Wheat and Corn-Based Dry Distiller Grains with Solubles in Barley-Based Finishing Diets of Feedlot Steers in Western Canada

Abstract

With the increase in fuel ethanol production from wheat and corn in Canada and the United States and the resulting abundance of distiller grains, this study evaluated the use of wheat-based dry distiller grains with solubles (WDDGS) or corn-based dry distiller grains with solubles (CDDGS) at 22.5% diet dry matter in barley-based diets compared to a standard barley-based finishing diet (CTRL) in feedlot steers in western Canada. Outcome variables describing feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and animal health were used to assess the relative economic impact of the three feeding strategies within commercial production settings.