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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #269696
Title: Effect of feeding wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) to growing-finishing cattle on ammonia concentration in air and manure nutrient composition

Author
item Spiehs, Mindy
item Miller, Daniel
item Woodbury, Bryan
item Eigenberg, Roger
item Varel, Vincent
item Parker, David

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/8/2011
Publication Date: 8/7/2011
Citation: Spiehs, M.J., Miller, D.N., Woodbury, B.L., Eigenberg, R.A., Varel, V.H., Parker, D.B. 2011. Effect of feeding wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) to growing-finishing cattle on ammonia concentration in air and manure nutrient composition. In: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Annual International Meeting, August 7-10, 2011, Louisville, Kentucky. Paper No. 1110941.

Interpretive Summary: Wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) are a by-product of the ethanol industry and are commonly fed to feedlot cattle. Diets containing WDGS are typically higher in nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur than comparable diets containing dry rolled corn. This excess nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur is excreted in the urine and feces and it may be used by microorganisms on the feedlot surface to produce odorous compounds. The objective of this study was to compare ammonia concentration in the air and nutrients and odorous compounds in the manure between cattle fed diets with or without WDGS. Five pens of feedlot cattle were fed diets containing 14-35% WDGS and five pens were fed a corn-based diet with no ethanol byproducts. Air samples were analyzed for ammonia concentration. Manure samples were analyzed for dry matter, pH, volatile solids, odorous compounds, and nutrient composition (nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur content). Manure from the surface of feedlots with cattle fed diets containing WDGS had a higher concentration of phosphorus and sulfur than pens with cattle fed corn-based diets containing no ethanol byproducts. Producers feeding WDGS to growing-finishing cattle may need to increase the amount of land available for manure application in order to properly utilize manure P from the feedlot. Use of WDGS in beef cattle diets increases ammonia concentration in the air, but does not appear to significantly increase the highly odorous compounds.

Technical Abstract: Air quality is a difficult and pressing problem for feedlot producers. This is compounded by feeding practices that influence the excretion of starch, fiber, crude protein, and sulfur (S) by cattle that significantly affect the production of odorous compounds. Wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) are a common and economical ingredient in feedlot diets. WDGS are high in protein, fiber, and S but low in starch. The objective of this study was to compare ammonia (NH3) concentration in the air and nutrients and volatile organic compounds (VOC) concentration in manure between two dietary treatments fed to feedlot cattle. Five pens of feedlot cattle were fed diets containing 14-35% WDGS and five pens were fed a corn-based diet with no ethanol byproducts (Control). Each pen had twelve sampling locations (N = 120) where air and manure samples were collected from the feedlot surface. Air samples were analyzed for NH3 concentration. Manure samples were analyzed for dry matter, pH, volatile solids, VOC, and nutrient composition (N, P, and S). Concentrations of P and S in manure and NH3 in the air were higher in pens fed WDGS compared to pens fed the control diet. Concentrations of VOC were similar across both treatments.