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Do distillers grains with solubles and crude glycerin affect beef quality?

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About this report:

Increasing corn prices as well as changes in management have led feedlot producers to look for new, more economical feedstuffs for cattle finishing diets. Coproducts from the ethanol industry such as distillers grains are one of the most common choices. Distillers grains can be used in several different forms (wet, dry, or modified) depending on the feeding needs of the producer and accessibility to these coproducts. Another coproduct, crude glycerin, has come about due to rapid expansions in the biodiesel industry and has become an affordable feedstuff. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of modified distillers grains with solubles (MDGS) at 35% and crude soybean glycerin at 10% inclusion in beef cattle finishing diets on carcass characteristics, meat color, fatty acid profiles, and sensory attributes of fresh and processed beef.

Conclusions:

Results from this study suggest that the inclusion of modified distillers grains plus solubles and crude glycerin in beef cattle finishing diets did not negatively impact carcass and meat quality characteristics.  Results also indicate that the addition of modified distillers grains plus solubles and crude glycerin in beef finishing diets did not negatively affect color stability of strip steaks and ground beef, but may impact sensory characteristics of beef strip steaks and bologna.

Project outcomes:

The information from feed trials such as this one is essential in helping livestock producers, who face increasing costs, determine what alternate feedstuffs are good for their livestock at more economical prices. In addition, the information helps ethanol and biodiesel producers find alternate uses for the coproducts leftover during the production of their products, thereby eliminating waste and increasing value.