Mixing Beef Feed Rations Containing Distillers Wet Grains

Abstract.     The flexibility of distillers grains has made it a major substitute for corn in beef feed rations. However, producers are having issues with feeding wet distillers grains. This study addresses three major mixing conditions: ingredient addition order, mixing time, and mixer design. The addition orders considered were hay-corn-protein-DWG and hay-DWG-protein-corn. Horizontal and vertical mixers were tested at mix times of 3, 5, and 7 min mixing a beef finishing ration containing wet distillers grains. Test results were obtained using total mixed ration and Pennsylvania State University Particle Separator analyses. Results showed that the 3-min mixing time is sufficient, thus when adding distillers grains, longer mix times are not needed. The hay- corn-protein- DWG ingredient addition order is recommended for both mixers when using liquid additives in the ration in order to avoid unwanted bundle formation. Finally, the two mixer designs were both adequate in mixing a wet distillers grains ration.