Effects of dried distillers grains inclusion in creep-feeding supplements on performance and digestion characteristics of suckling beef calves in tropical pastures

Context: Creep feeding is an effective strategy for increasing weaning weight. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of dried distiller’s grains (DDG) supplementation in calves grazing tropical pastures. Aims: To evaluate the effect of DDG inclusion in creep-feeding supplements on the performance and digestion characteristics of suckling beef calves on tropical pastures. Methods: Thirty-seven Red Angus × Nellore male calves (162 ± 4 kg BW; 120 ± 30 days old) were used. Cow-calf pairs (n = 37) were randomly assigned into eight paddocks formed by Urochloa decumbens pastures. Animals were subjected to a 14-day adaptation period followed by a 108-day performance and digestibility period. Four treatments were evaluated: control (mineral premix), supplement without inclusion of DDG, or supplements including 375 g/kg or 750 g/kg DDG on a dry matter (DM) basis. Orthogonal contrasts were used to compare control and supplemented calves and to evaluate the linear and quadratic effects of DDG inclusion in the supplement. Key results: Supplementation increased (P ≤ 0.01) voluntary intake, although it showed no effect (P ≥ 0.46) on neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (apNDF) or indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) intakes. Supplementation did not affect (P < 0.42) calves’ forage intake. The addition of DDG in the supplements tended to have a quadratic effect (P < 0.07) on the calves’ forage intake. Supplementation improved DM and crude protein (CP) digestibilities linearly (P ≤ 0.03). Additionally, adding DDG in the supplement decreased the dietary DOM linearly (P < 0.01). Supplementation enhanced (P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG) when compared to control calves. Conversely, ADG decreased linearly as the DDG inclusion in the supplement increased (P ≤ 0.04). Conclusion: Supplementing beef calves through a creep-feeding system enhances calf performance. Conversely, including 375 g or 750 g DDG/kg DM in supplements decreases digestion characteristics and performance of suckling beef calves in tropical pastures. Implications: The present study reinforces the use of creep-feeding supplementation in suckling beef calves. However, the inclusion of DDG in creep-feeding supplements may not provide the expected benefits in tropical conditions.