Feeding wet corn gluten feed to reduce subacute acidosis in cattle

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) on subacute acidosis in cattle. In Exp. 1, 60 individually fed yearling steers (270 +/- 22 kg BW) were used in a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Steers were assigned to one of five dietary treatments: 1) dry-rolled corn (DRC), 2) 35% WCGF fed d 1 to 132, 3) 86.5% WCGF fed d 1 reduced to 35% WCGF by d 19 and increasing the proportion of DRC, 4) 86.5% WCGF fed d 1 to 132, or 5) 94.5% WCGF fed d 1 to 132. Final diets for Treatments 1 through 4 contained 92% concentrate and 8% alfalfa hay (DM basis). Treatment 5 was a 100% concentrate diet. All diets were fed with or without the addition of escape protein. During d 19 to 24, steers fed WCGF had less (P < .05) DMI variation than steers fed the control diet. Steers fed 86.5 and 94.5% WCGF had lower (P < .05) DMI and ADG than steers fed TReatments 1 through 3, although gain/feed was mot different (P > .10) In Exp. 2, three ruminally fistulated steers (615 +/- 36 kg BW) were used in a repeated 3 x 3 Latin square design. On d 14 of each period, 7.9 kg (DM) of 100% DRC, 50% DRC:50% WCGF, of 100% WCGF was intraruminally dosed as an acidosis challenge. Area within the curve below ruminal pH 6.0 was greater (P < .05) over a 24-h period for steers dosed with 100% DRC than for steers dosed with 50% DRC: 50% WCGF or 100% WCGF. In addition, more (P < .05) ruminal VFA accumulated over 24 h for steers dosed with 100% DRC. These data suggest that feeding WCGF does nor eliminate ruminal acidosis but may reduce the length of time cattle are exposed to the insult.