Are DDGS a Good Winter Supplement?

40 August 29, 2023

Background

Beef producers have many options when it comes to choosing a supplementation program for their cattle. High protein forages, commodities, or commercial supplements can all effectively provide additional nutrients to cattle to support better performance. However, research now demonstrates that compared with other supplementation options, DDGS provides a more effective and lower-cost alternative to other more traditional supplementation programs.

DDGS vs Bale Grazing vs Liquid Protein Supplement

In order to compare some very common supplementation programs, researchers from North Dakota State University fed 64 non-lactating, pregnant beef cows a poor quality grass hay along with one of three supplements: alfalfa hay, a commercial liquid protein supplement, and DDGS. Cows had free-choice access to the grass hay and researchers provided the supplements in the following manner:

Provided 1 bale of alfalfa hay for every 3 bales of grass hay.
Poured approximately 9 gallons of liquid protein supplement on each bale of grass hay and allowed the liquid to seep into the bale.
Provided 4 pounds per head per day of DDGS (fed twice per week).

Research

The research study occurred during the winter of 2016/2017 and unfortunately, excessive snow and cold temperatures forced the researchers to conclude the study after 70 days. However, even with this shorter duration, cows fed the DDGS performed much better than cows provided the other supplements (Figure 1, right). Cows fed DDGS gained weight during the study while cows on the other treatments actually lost weight during the study. As with any supplementation program, optimal cattle performance depends on accurate diet formulation. However, this study demonstrates that DDGS provides an effective option to more expensive supplementation options.

Figure 1 – Body weight and average daily gain of cows fed different winter supplements

DDGS vs Lick Tub

Molasses-based lick tubs are another common supplementation option for beef producers. These tubs provide a convenient way to supplement cattle because producers can simply set the tubs in the pasture and cattle will consume the tubs for several days. In order to compare cattle performance and cost of lick-tub supplementation, researchers at the University of Nebraska conducted a research study with steers fed a commercial lick tub vs. DDGS.
Steers on the DDGS treatment received approximately 3 pounds of DDGS per head per day in a bunk while researchers placed the lick tubs in the pasture and allowed free-choice consumption for the other group of steers.

Figure 2 – Body weight and efficiency of steers fed either a lick tub or DDGS

Results

Choosing the best feeding program involves more than just looking at ingredient costs and animal performance. Livestock producers need to also consider factors like feed availability, feed quality, and livestock markets. These variables can change from year to year and as a result, when producers can implement different feeding programs to adjust for these factors, they can optimize their profitability.
Ingredients like POET DDGS or POET Pellets and Cubes provide animals with an economical and digestible source of nutrients. Additionally, since POET uses its unique BPX process at each of its 27 biorefineries, livestock producers can feel confident they receive the same high quality ingredient each time. These features provide producers with feeding program options to capture additional value and improve profitability.

However, in order for a successful implementation of these programs, producers need to know the benefits and details of each program. If you would like additional information on this study or more details on the nutritional profile of POET Distillers Grains or POET Pellets and Cubes, please contact POET feed ingredients.