Evaluation of growth performance and carcass characteristics of beef stocker cattle grazing Tifton 85 bermudagrass supplemented with dried distillers grains with solubles then finished in the feedlot

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the influence of varying rates of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) supplemented daily on performance of beef stocker cattle grazing Tifton 85 (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers. x Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) bermudagrass pastures. Materials and Methods: Steers (n = 112, 379 +/- 35.5 kg of BW) were stratified by BW and randomly allocated to 16 pastures (0.7 +/- 0.01 ha) during each summer of 2 yr (2014, 2015). Pastures were allocated randomly to 3 daily rates of a DDGS supplement (SUPP; 0.25, 0.5, or 1% BW) and a nonsupplemented control (PAS) for 110 d in 2014 and 112 d in 2015. Results and Discussion: Steer ADG increased linearly (P < 0.01) as SUPP increased, with 0.25% BW resulting in a 0.28-kg increase, 0.5% BW resulting in a 0.35-kg increase, and 1% BW SUPP resulting in an 0.49-kg increase in ADG compared with PAS. Gain per hectare was greatest (P < 0.05) at 1,867 kg/ha from 1% BW, followed by 1,347 kg/ha from 0.5% BW, and 1,232 kg/ha from 0.25% BW SUPP. Pastures with PAS had gains of 849 kg/ha. Increasing SUPP on pasture linearly decreased compensatory gains in the feedlot (P < 0.01), with feedlot ADG of 1.80, 1.64, 1.62, and 1.47 kg/d for PAS, 0.25, 0.5, and 1% BW SUPP, respectively. Implications and Applications: Supplementation of beef stocker cattle with DDGS while grazing Tifton 85 bermudagrass may be a viable management strategy to enhance gain per animal or land area.