| dc.description.abstract | A 2-yr study evaluated the efficacy of using dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) as a substitute for nitrogen (N) or N and phosphorus (P) fertilizer in stocker cattle grazing Plains Old World bluestem. Cattle were allotted to one of 4 treatments:1) Old World bluestem pastures with no N or P fertilizer and low stocking rate of 325 kg/ha (CONT), 2) Old World bluestem pastures fertilized with 90 kg/ha of N and no P with high stocking rate of 650 kg/ha (NFERT), 3) Old World bluestem pastures fertilized with 90 kg/ha of N and 40 kg/ha of P with high stocking rate of 650 kg/ha (NPFERT), and 4) unfertilized Old World bluestem pastures with the same stocking rate as NFERT and NPFERT with cattle receiving 0.75% BW of corn DDGS per day for a 5 day / week feeding schedule (DDGS). Average forage mass in yr 1 and 2 was 3,170 and 6,051 kg/ha, respectively. In yr 1 final BW (P < 0.05), total BW gain (P < 0.05), overall ADG (P < 0.05), and gain/ha (P < 0.05) were greater for DDGS compared to CONT, NFERT, and NPFERT. Nitrogen recovery as cattle weight gain was greatest (P < 0.05) for CONT, and DDGS was greater than NFERT and NPFERT. In yr 2 there were no differences (P > 0.05) between final BW, total BW gain, or overall ADG between treatments. This may have been due to greater forage mass in yr 2. . Gain per ha was greater (P < 0.05) for DDGS, NFERT, and NPFERT compared to CONT and may be due to increased stocking rates for those treatments. Nitrogen recovery was greater (P < 0.05) for CONT, intermediate for DDGS, and lowest for NFERT, NPFERT. Dried distillers grains can be used as a substitute for forage and N fertilizer by improving performance and N recovery by stocker cattle grazing Old World bluestem. | |
