Three hundred thirty-nine crossbred beef
heifers were used in a 99-day growing study
to identify optimum combinations of alfalfa
hay and wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) in
limit-fed growing diets. Diets contained 10,
20, or 30% ground alfalfa hay, and 0, 40, or
68% Sweet Bran® WCGF (dry basis) in a 3 ×
3 factorial arrangement of treatments. An
interaction occurred (P<0.05) between level
of alfalfa hay and level of WCGF for both
average daily gain and feed efficiency.
Increasing the levels of alfalfa hay or WCGF
reduced cattle performance, with the exception
of the 30% alfalfa hay and 40% WCGF
diet, which supported average daily gains
similar (P>0.10) to diets containing 20 or
30% alfalfa hay and no WCGF. Feed efficiencies
for the 30% alfalfa hay and 40%
WCGF diet were better (P<0.05) than the
diet containing 30% alfalfa hay and no
WCGF. Dry matter intake as measured two
hours after feeding increased linearly
(P<0.01) with increasing levels of alfalfa
hay, and decreased linearly (P<0.01) with
increasing levels of WCGF. This study
suggests that including WCGF at 40% of the
diet (dry basis) can effectively replace
steam-flaked corn in limit-fed diets containing
20 or 30% alfalfa hay.
