Producers and nutritionists recognize that animals find dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) palatable. However, very little research has looked at how further processing the DDGS into pellets affects palatability. The current study addresses that lack of data and demonstrates that cattle find pelleted DDGS extremely palatable. This highlights that pelleted DDGS have potential applications for pellets in robotic milkers, receiving diets, and calf starters or growers.
Study
To quantify the palatability of pelleted DDGS, researchers at the University of Nebraska designed a study using 8 lactating Jersey cows. Prior to feeding the total mixed ration, researchers placed approximately 1 pound of 4 different ingredients in separate containers in front of each cow (figure 1; images 1 and 2). The 4 ingredients included: corn, DDGS, a novel high-protein distillers ingredient, and POET® Pellets and Cubes.
Figure 1. Buse, et al., 2020 – ADSA Annual Meeting
Researchers recorded which ingredient cows selected first, second, third, or fourth. After a few days, researchers then removed the most preferred ingredient for each cow. This continued for a total of 3 feeding segments and allowed for a sequential ranking of palatability for each cow from most preferred to least-preferred.
Image 1: Container placement. Image 2: Ingredient Selection
Results
Cows found all the ingredients palatable, but all 8 cows preferred the pelleted DDGS over the other ingredients. The pelleted DDGS had an average ranking of 1.0, corn ranked 2.1, DDGS 2.5, and high-protein distillers averaged 4.0 (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Palatability ranking of different ingredients.
Results
Several factors determine the dairy cow’s preference for ingredients. Odor, taste, and particle size can all impact what a cow chooses to eat when they have a choice. In this study, it appears the combination of these factors for the pelleted DDGS made it the overwhelmingly favored ingredient.
Implications
In most situations, producers and nutritionists want to encourage intake of ingredients that provide a digestible source of nutrients. Greater intake results in greater nutrient supply and the potential to support better growth, production, or health. The results from this study suggest that pelleted DDGS could have significant value for applications where producers want to promote intake. This would include applications like pre-conditioning for just-weaned calves, dairy pellet used in robotic milking systems, starter feeds in feedlots, and starter or grower pellets for replacement dairy heifers.
When producers consider feeding a pelleted DDGS, they need to consider these types of benefits on animal performance and potential for increased performance and revenue.
For additional information, contact us at feedingredients@poet.com
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*These results are not a guarantee of nutritional value, as laboratory results are influenced by factors beyond the control of POET Bioproducts.
