Is the wheat distillers grains soluble ProtiWanze a valuable alternative to soybean and canola meals in beef cattle diet?

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether introducing the condensed wheat distillers soluble ProtiWanze® (PW) in diets of beef cattle has an impact on feeding costs, health and production of the animals. PW by-product from a Belgian bio-ethanol plant which utilized only wheat without bran, is an acid (pH=4) liquid feed rich in energy (VEM= 1130) and protein (TP= 282 mg/kg DM).
PW supplementation from 9 to 13% on DM basis has been tested in 4 suckler cows’ farms for 4 months in 2011 and 2012. In 2011, 2 BB (H1 and H3) and 1 Blonde d’Aquitaine (H2: 23 cows) herds were evaluated and in 2012, the Blonde d’Aquitaine herd was replaced by a third BBB herd (H4: 42 cows). Every month, animals’ health and production were checked by the mean of Body Condition Score, Ruminal Fill, Fecal Consistency, Undigested Fraction and Locomotion Scores determination, as described by Zaaier et al.(2001) and Sprecher et al.(1997). Ruminal fluid was sampled by a stomach tube (Ruminator®) on 5 cows for pH, redox potential (Methylene blue test) and protozoa assessment (optical microscopy). Reproduction performances of this 2 year’s-period were analyzed. Price of a diet containing the same amount of proteins brought by a mixture of 1/3 soybean and 2/3 canola meal was calculated to verify whether introducing PW reduced feeding costs. Whatever the concentration of PW used, no adverse effect has been observed concerning reproduction, production performance, ruminal pH. Feeding costs were reduced by 0.08 €/cow/day in 2011 and by 0.02 €/cow/day in 2012. This lower spared amount in 2012 is the consequence of the reduction in PW protein concentration while its price increased. Anyway, comparison has to take into account the energy brought by this CDS as it has been suggested by Petersen’s equation, which compares CDS price with soybean meal but also with maize price. Further argument to be considered, especially in BB, is the high PW palatability, its low ruminal filling value and better roughage digestion.