Alternative Feeds

1. Alternative Feeds Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Oklahoma State University

2. Supplemental Feeding Is Recommended for Grazing Cattle When: • Correcting for nutritional deficiency • Increased performance is desired • Stretching forage is necessary

3. Traditional Supplements • Alfalfa hay • Corn, grain sorghum, wheat • Cottonseed meal, soybean meal, wheat middlings

4. Access to Alternative Feeds Has Increased In Recent Years • By-products of grain and/or oilseed milling, fermentation products, bakeries, etc. • Common examples: Wheat midds, corn gluten feed, soybean hulls, distiller’s grains • Less common examples: Bakery waste products, bean sprouts, peanut skins

5. Considerations • Nutritional expertise/knowledge required! • Product variability: If in question, test! • Availability • Handling and storage characteristics • Mineral considerations • Individual product considerations

6. Nutritional Wisdom Required! • Alternative feeds require nutritional expertise: they have not been “balanced” to fit specific feeding or supplementation needs • Cannot stand alone as single ingredient supplements or complete feeds • More blending and nutritional expertise available now through commercial feed industry

7. Digestible vs Nondigestible Fiber Sources Digestible fiber energy sources Soybean hulls Wheat middlings Corn gluten feed Distillers dried grains Rice bran Indigestible fiber Cottonseed hulls Rice hulls Peanut hulls

8. Product Variability • Palatability • Moisture • Protein • Protein degradability • Minerals

9. Ash Content of Selected Alternative Feeds Source: Dairy One

10. Iron Content of Selected Alternative Feeds Iron requirement in total daily ration = 50 ppm Source: Dairy One

11. Diet Considerations • Energy in by-products is in the form of digestible fiber reducing the risk of digestive upsets compared to grain based supplements • Nutrients in by-products are often concentrated • Ex> DDGS 3 times more concentrated than corn • Diets in excess of 6% fat cause diarrhea and reduce forage digestibility

12. Mineral Considerations • In TOTAL diet, balance for 2:1 Ca:P ratio • P is usually too high in alternative feeds and must be offset with supplemental calcium • Generally good sources of trace minerals although extremely variable and a complimentary supplement will be required

13. Phosphorus Content of Selected Alternative Feeds Range in P requirements for cattle Source: Dairy One

14. Many alternative feeds require flat storage and will not auger or gravity flow Pelleting Reduces dust Improves flow and density Reduces freight cost Disclaimer: Some by-products do not pellet well “Commodity” feeds are generally not available in cube form Handling and Pelleting

15. Other Considerations • Availability • Seasonal • Freight - volume and cost • Facilities and equipment • Protein degradability • Heat damage reduces protein degradability • Acid Detergent Insoluble Ash (ADIN) Higher ADIN = more indigestible protein

16. Barley Malt Sprout Pellets • By-product of beer brewing process • Palatable feed • Considerable fiber from hulls • High phosphorous and sulfur content • Potential sulfur toxicity problems

17. Corn Gluten Feed • By-product of high fructose corn syrup production • Highly rumen degradable protein source • Palatability variable with grazing cattle • Energy value equal to corn when fed at 0.5% of body weight • Potential sulfur toxicity problems

18. Dried Distillers Grains • By-product of the distilling industry • Low in ruminal degradable protein 30-50% • As acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) increases, undegradable protein increases • Considered a protein supplement, but energy value equal to corn gluten feed

19. Hominy Feed • By-product of hominy grits, and corn meal milling process • Palatable feed • Should be analyzed for fat content • Limit to 0.5% of weight due to fat and rapid fermentation rate

20. Rice Bran • By-product of the rice milling industry • High fat content can cause rancidity problems during summer storage • Small particle size, starch, and fat content present potential digestive problems • Limit to 0.5% of weight due to fat content

21. Soybeans • Damaged beans (drought, frost, etc.) have good feeding value • Damaged soybeans vary in nutrient content • Drought stressed beans should be cracked or rolled • Not for calves < 300 lbs. due to trypsin inhibitor, or cattle consuming urea containing supplements • Limit to 0.3% of body weight of grazing cattle • Never feed to cows within 60 d of breeding season

22. Soybean Hulls • By-product of soy-bean oil processing • Energy from highly digestible fiber • Energy equal to corn when limited to 0.5% of body weight of grazing cattle • Can cause bloat if consuming over 1.5% of body weight. Avoid bloat by feeding 3-4 lbs. effective fiber when self-feeding hulls

23. Sunflower Meal • By-product of the sunflower oil production process • Protein highly rumen degradable • Low digestibility of hulls limits energy value • Buy based on cost per unit of protein

24. Wheat • Human use - usually too expensive as feed grain • Low test weight, sprout-damaged wheat sometimes competitively priced to feed grains • Higher rumen degradability of protein than corn • Must be rolled or coarsely ground to be utilized • If feeding high amounts of grain (>1% of weight) blend 30-50% wheat with 50-70% other grain

25. Wheat Middlings • By-product of flour milling process • Performance similar to corn and soybean supplement in grazing cattle • Energy from highly digestible fiber and starch • Limit to 1% of weight to reduce risk of bloat • Susceptible to molding at moisture content above 11%

26. Whole Cottonseed • By-product of cotton ginning process • Uniquely high in energy, fat, protein, fiber, and palatability • Limit to 0.5-.75% weight due to fat content • Does not flow in mechanical systems, must be handled manually

27. Conclusions • Alternative feeds variable in price, availability, and nutrient composition • May require additional handling (mixing), storage, and feeding equipment • Must have knowledge of the feed’s nutrient and physical characteristics • Must consider all feeds available to the cattle and work to provide balanced nutrition • May represent a cost savings opportunity

28. Questions?