Whole sorghum grain stillage for beef cattle

Abstract

Trials were conducted to evaluate the storing, handling, and feeding of whole sorghum grain stillage from a farm-scale still. Stillage varied in dry matter among batches and had to be agitated to keep solids suspended. Whole stillage kept for 10 days to 2 weeks, even during warm weather, with mold growth occurring only on the surface. However, when stillage was mixed with either grain or forage, it spoiled rapidly and required close bunk management. Although whole stillage was still palatable to cattle after 2 weeks, intakes were best when it was less than 3 days old. When whole stillage was fed freechoice, cattle could not consume enough dry matter to maintain weight. Steers fed whole stillage at 50% (as-fed basis) of a growing ration consumed more dry matter, gained faster, and were more efficient than those fed 0, 32, or 68% stillage. Feeding decanted stillage (10.5% dry matter) as a protein supplement in finishing rations gave poorer rate and efficiency of gains than did soybean meal or urea.