Wheat Tailings in Feedlot Finishing Diets

One hundred twenty-eight yearling steers (average initial weight 854 Ib) were fed one of four finishing diets containing (dry matter basis) either 1) 83% high moisture corn, 2) 44% high moisture corn and 37% high moisture wheat tailings, 3) 82% high moisture wheat tailings, or 4) 42% high moisture corn and 40% dry wheat tailings. Wheat tailings consisted of small wheat kernels removed during cleaning that had low test weights (41.5 to 52.0 Iblbushel) and high vomitoxin levels (1 7 to 42 ppm). High moisture wheat tailings were coursely cracked, reconstituted to 29% moisture, and ensiled. Dry wheat tailings were cracked only. Average daily gain declined up to 25% (P\u3c.01) with increasing levels of high moisture wheat tailings as a result of a linear decline in dry matter intake (P \u3c .05). Feed efficiency tended to worsen (P\u3c .14). However, calculated net energy values for high moisture wheat tailings were similar to that of corn. Dry wheat tailings, on the other hand, resulted in similar intake (P\u3e .20) but 1 5% lower average daily gain (P\u3c .01) than high moisture wheat tailings fed at a comparable level and net energy values were approximately 75% of corn. Wheat tailings, regardless of form or level, decreased quality grade (P \u3c .05) but did not affect dressing percent, yield grade, or liver abscesses (P\u3e .20)