A System for Wintering Beef Heifers Using Dried Distillers Grains

We hypothesized dried distillers grains (DDG) would be an acceptable supplement in an extended grazing heifer wintering system. The nutrient profile of DDG makes it attractive in forage based production settings. Dried distillers grains is an excellent source of total digestible nutrients, containing digestible fiber and relatively high levels of fat. Dried distillers grains is also high in crude protein (approximately 32%), the majority of which (65%) is undegraded in the rumen. Additionally, DDG is a good source of phosphorus (0.6%), a nutrient commonly deficient in forage based diets. The objective of this experiment was to reduce costs in an extended grazing heifer wintering system using a DDG based supplement without decreasing heifer reproductive or calf growth performance compared to a conventional system.