A comparison of distillers dark grains with proprietary concentrate for milk production

Extract

In an attempt to increase the value of distillery by-products, in the 1970's many Scottish distilleries installed drying plants and dried distillers wet grains and pot-ale syrup together to produce dark grains. The feeding value of these dark grains for ruminant livestock has been well researched in America and researchers Firkins et al (1984) concluded that the protein component of dark grains is partially resistant to degradation in the rumen and this protein fraction can be more efficiently utilised by some classes of ruminant livestock than rumen degradable protein.

The current trial considered replacement or partial replacement of proprietary concentrate with one of three types of dark grains. The dark grains were from cereal sources - either barley, wheat or maize.

Twenty-one British Friesian cows in early lactation were used in an incomplete changeover design experiment consisting of four periods each of four weeks duration.