Finishing diets with Sweet Bran and wet distillers grains with solubles alone or in combination improve performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of Sweet Bran (SB) and wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) in the diet alone or in combination on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle. Materials and Methods: For this study, steers (n = 455; 373 +/- 15.5 kg) were stratified by BW and previous antimicrobial treatment to 48 pens in a randomized complete block design (12 blocks, 4 pens per block) using pen as the experimental unit. Within block, pens of steers transitioned over 20 d to 1 of 4 dietary treatments based on steam-flaked corn, containing no corn-milling products (CON), 20% WDGS (WDGS20), 20% SB (SB20), or 20% SB and 10% WDGS (COMBO). Results and Discussion: Final BW and overall (d 0 to final) DMI and ADG were greater (P < 0.01) for WDGS20, SB20, and COMBO than for CON, but overall G:F (P = 0.48) was not different. Hot carcass weight was greatest (P = 0.04) for SB20 and WDGS20, intermediate for COMBO, and least for CON. Dressing percentage, marbling score, QG, 12th-rib fat, LM area, and KPH did not differ (P > 0.21). Yield grade tended (P = 0.09) to be greater for WDGS20 and SB20 than CON. No difference (P > 0.32) was observed between treatments for QG. Liver scores were not different (P = 0.47) among treatments. Empty body fat did not differ (P = 0.25), but empty BW was greater (P = 0.04) for WDGS20 and SB20 than COMBO and CON. No difference (P = 0.13) was observed for performance-calculated NE (Mcal/kg; maintenance or gain). Implications and Applications: The results of this study suggest that addition of WDGS, SB, or both into finishing diets based on steam-flaked corn increases DMI and subsequently improves performance of feedlot cattle.