Cattle producers are being forced to look at alternative feed sources with the lack of DDGs being produced as ethanol plants go offline. SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Specialist Warren Rusche says the price of DDGs has also been climbing making it a less affordable feed ingredient in cattle rations especially compared to alternatives like soybean hulls or soybean meal.

He says soybean meal is readily available and is very adaptable in various beef rations.

Rusche says changing the ration isn’t difficult, but when swapping out ingredients like DDGs producers need to consider the impact on the other components of the diet.

Rusche says when starch is increased in the finishing diet the likelihood of acidosis also goes up so producers need to pay more attention to feed intake. Other products cattle feeders can use include non-protein nitrogen or urea and meat and bone meal. More information is available on the SDSU Extension website.