Optimized utilization of the co-products from bioethanol processing and oat grain: effect of blending on biochemical, biodegradation, and nutritional profiles.

The objective of this study was to (1) optimize the utilization of wheat-based dried distillers grains with soluble (wDDGS) by blending with oat ( Avena sativa L.) grain as an alternative feed for beef cattle when the barley price is high and (2) investigate the effect of blending on biochemical, biodegradation, and nutritional profiles. Oat grains were blended with wDDGS produced in western Canada at different levels (4:0, 3:1, 2:2, and 1:3 on %DM basis in two batches, denoted O0, O25, O50, and O75, respectively). The study revealed that increasing the wDDGS resulted in increasing most nutrient contents linearly (P < 0.05) except for starch and cell wall materials, which were linearly decreased (from 43.6 to 12.0% and from 34.5 to 29.1% of DM for starch and NDF, respectively). When wDDGS was increased in the blend/mixture, intestinally absorbable protein and degradable balance of protein increased (P < 0.05). Overall, through blending or combining with the cereal grain, the co-products from bioethanol processing could be optimally utilized. The best combination of oat to wDDGS ratio was 75% to 25%.