Fargo, N.D. – Kendall Swanson, associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at NDSU, co-wrote a publication titled “Influence of feeding increasing levels of dry corn distillers grains plus solubles in whole corn grain-based finishing diets on total tract digestion, nutrient balance and excretion in beef steers.” The article appeared in the Journal of Animal Science Sept. 5.

Swanson studied the effects of increasing dry distillers grains plus solubles inclusion up to 50 percent of the diet dry matter in finishing cattle diets. He found feeding up to 50 percent of the diet as dry distillers grains plus solubles did not have a negative effect on nutrient retention by the animal, but increased the excretion of nitrogen and minerals (phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and potassium). When feeding high levels of distillers grains, implications of increased nutrient concentrations in manure should be considered when developing manure management plans and when using manure as fertilizer.

Swanson’s work was completed at the University of Guelph with the help of his graduate student and others before he started his position at NDSU. 

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.