Optimizing the level of wet corn gluten feed in the diet of lactating dairy cows

Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows averaging 566 +/- 43 kg of body weight and 83 +/- 49 d in lactation were assigned to treatments stratified by age, days in milk, and milk yield to evaluate the effects of feeding increasing levels of wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) on lactational performance and milk composition. Complete diets containing 0, 15, 30, or 45% of the total ration dry matter (DM) as WCGF were formulated to be 17.2% crude protein and 1.72 Mcal of NEL per kilogram of DM, and fed twice daily to individual cows in Calan gates for 15 wk. All diets had a positive metabolizable protein balance. WCGF did not alter DM intake, but feed intake variance tended to be more consistent among cows fed 15 and 30% WCGF (DM basis). Weight gain was numerically greatest for those cows receiving 45% WCGF. Efficiency of energy and protein utilization was not different among treatments. Milk components of fat, protein, and casein were not different among treatments. Milk urea nitrogen was greater for cows on WCGF. Serum urea nitrogen was greatest in cows fed diets containing 15 and 45% WCGF. Serum insulin was lowest in the groups receiving 30 and 45% WCGF, but serum glucose and total protein were unaffected. The concentration of the ruminal volatile fatty acid, valerate, was greater in cows on the WCGF diet and highest in cows fed 30% WCGF. Ruminal ammonia was greatest in cows receiving 30% WCGF. It was estimated that 18.6% of the dietary DM fed as WCGF as a replacement for both portions of the concentrate and the forage in similar diets would have maximized milk yield without negatively affecting milk composition or feed efficiency.