Beer grains as feed for cattle: what is it, the pros and cons of using it

The production of beer wort leaves a by-product with a high nutritional value - spent grain. Brewers do not dispose of it, but sell it to livestock farms. Brewer's grain used as feed for cattle is a rich source of proteins, and when regularly present in the diet, it normalizes digestion and metabolism, increases the milk yield of dairy cows and the slaughter productivity of beef bulls.

What is a grain of beer?

Drobina - protein concentrate remaining after the production of beer wort. It is supplied to livestock breeders in ensiled and granulated form.Fresh product is a liquid, stored for no longer than 4 days. Further, oxidation processes begin in it, useful substances are replaced by toxic ones. Therefore, for use in animal husbandry, grain must be dried or ensiled.

Out of 3.5 tons of raw beer mass, approximately 1 ton of dry grains is obtained. It is sold in crumbly form or pressed into granules.

Beer pellet - a valuable protein feed for cattle, 100 g contains:

• 78g water;
• 4g protein;
• 2g fat;
• 0.3g sugars;
• 3.5g fiber;
• 0.8g fly ash;
• 11 g nitrogen-free organics;
• 0.1 g phosphorus;
• 0.07 g calcium.

The nutritional value of 1 kg of silage grain corresponds to a similar portion of compound feed for dairy cows with a protein content of 25% and an energy yield for lactation of 6.7 MJ.Regular inclusion of pellets in the diet in the amount of 10-12 kg per individual per day allows you to save 2.5 kg of concentrated feed per day.

Saturated with protein and fiber, the product has a positive effect on the stomach of cattle. With regular inclusion in the diet, it normalizes the functioning of the rumen, prevents diarrhea in cows.

A high percentage of proteins in beer mass remains stable in the stomach. Almost 50% of the protein bypasses the rumen without digestion, assimilation occurs in the small intestine.

The nutritional value of the ensiled product is shown in the table.

metabolic energy, MJ11.4lactation energy, MJ crude protein, g undigested protein in the rumen, g digested protein, g 230rumen nitrogen balance, g +5

Indicator	Value per 1 kg dry matter
6,7
260
160

Pros and cons

Pros and consa high concentration of protein that does not break down in the stomach;obtaining the same amount of energy as from concentrated feed;normalization of digestion, prevention of problems with defecation;dietary quality, he alth benefits;a decrease in the concentration of the dry component in the diet, an increase in the consumption of the main feed;naturalness, high content of bioactive components;reduction in the cost of feeding cattle, the ability to replace expensive soybean meal;positive effect on lactation of dairy cows.grains cannot be called a cheap product from the waste category, the cost is due to the severity and cost of drying and granulation;on the market of livestock products, beer raw materials appear infrequently;many large farms bring the product directly from nearby breweries, but since it is stored for no longer than 3-4 days, it quickly deteriorates, becomes covered with mold, ferments, you have to transport it 2 times a week, which increases the cost due to labor costs.

Instructions for use for cows

The consumption rate of a beer product for a dairy cow is 5-10 kg per day, for fattening bulls and young animals - 10-15 kg. A portion of beer silage for cattle is selected individually, taking into account the qualitative composition of the main feed and the milk productivity of animals. With an increase in the percentage of pellets in the diet of cattle, the total daily portion of feed is reduced. With the regular inclusion of a beer product in the diet of beef cows, the meat acquires a pleasant aroma and juicy taste.

Recommended portions of silage grains for cattle, taking into account milk production, are shown in the table.

6-6.5

Cattle milk production, l	Daily portion of beer silo, kg
15-20	2,5-3
20-30	4-5

Approximate grass-silage ration for cattle, including brewer's grains:

• hay - 1 kg;
• bean-cereal silage - 15 kg;
• ensiled corn - 20 kg;
• grain - 10 kg;
• rapeseed meal - 1.5 kg.

Precautions

Incorrect use of beer silage threatens with serious indigestion and death of cattle. A fresh product quickly becomes moldy, causes poisoning in the cows that have eaten it. Therefore, breweries try to sell waste within a day, and farmers rush to feed or ensil it.

Excessive inclusion of pellets in the diet of cattle threatens to malfunction of the stomach, obesity, leads to reproductive problems.

Storage rules

Fresh beer waste contains 20-25% dry matter, has a temperature of 55-65 °C. With such indicators, the pellet must be ensiled within 3 days. Ensiling beer waste is more difficult than corn, as it contains less moisture and sugars. The use of biopreservatives is useless, since at temperatures up to 65 ° C, lactic acid bacteria do not actively multiply. The only acceptable and uncomplicated way of ensiling is laying in polymer sleeves. If the use of sleeves is not possible, then you can put the pellet on a concrete cover, cover it with a film to create anaerobic conditions, fix the structure with sandbags or other weights.

The silage pile must not come into contact with the ground. Ash particles contained in the ground disrupt the fermentation process.

It is advisable not to make silage heaps higher than 1.5 m. Ensiling lasts 3 days. After this time, the farmer can already depressurize the sleeve. But feeding with silage from one sleeve should not be extended for more than 3 days.

It is better to leave the silo in sealed conditions for a month. During this time, the core of the silage pile will cool down to outside temperature, and the growth of mold fungi will slow down. As a result, the product will be more suitable for cattle consumption. Hermetically sealed bags with silage can be stored for at least six months.

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