Feed intake of steers fed tall fescue hay in a University of Kentucky experiment increased when moderate amounts of dried corn ethanol distillers grains were added to their diets.
In addition to hay fed at 125% of amounts fed before the trial, steers were offered distillers grains at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 or 1.25% of body weight daily. Organic matter intake increased with rising levels of distillers grains, plateauing between 0.75 and 1.25% of body weight.
The results suggest that, with growing cattle grazing tall fescue, increased gains would be expected as distillers grains supplementation rose to about 0.75%. But higher amounts offer no added benefit, say researchers.