R. S. Younker*,
S. D. Winland*,
J. L. Firkins1*,
B. L. Hull+
*The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences
+The Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Substituting dried brewers grains for forage (reducing forage NDF from 23.5 to 17.0%), for concentrate (to reduce nonfiber carbohydrates from 45.0 to 34.1%), or both forage and concentrate had minor effects on ruminal characteristics or site of NDF digestion by cows in late lactation. However, gut fill appeared to be limited by brewers grains fiber when total NDF exceeded 35% of the diet dry matter. Because of the short (14-day) periods, milk-fat percent was the only production response affected by treatment. Milk-fat percent was reduced in low-forage diets unless brewers grains replaced both forage and grain. Although chewing was not measured, dried brewers grains appeared to be a successful replacement for a portion of the forage in the diet.
1For more information, contact at: The Ohio State University, 223 Animal Science Building, 2029 Fyffe Road, Columbus, OH 43210; 614-688-3089; fax 614-292-1515; e-mail: firkins.1@osu.edu