Supplementing DDGS to Steers Grazing Smooth Bromegrass Pastures

Five years of data were summarized to evaluate cattle and pasture performance when smooth bromegrass pastures were fertilized or cattle were supplemented daily with dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) on nonfertilized pastures. Cattle were supplemented at 0.6% of BW for an average of 158 days. Supplemented cattle gained 0.59 lb/day more than unsupplemented cattle. As forage quality declined over the grazing season, ADG also declined but the cattle’s response to DDGS supplementation increased. Each 1 lb of DDGS supplement replaced approximately 1 lb of forage intake. Pastures with supplemented cattle had increased forage production compared to control pastures but less forage production than fertilized pastures.