A:   Distillers grains is an excellent feed. Excellent energy, protein, and phosphorus source for beef cattle. Need to monitor sulfur content and the amount of added fat to the diet as distillers grains can be 10 to 12 percent fat. Would not exceed 6% fat in grain diets. Distillers grains fed at 1/3 of the diet on a dry matter basis works good. When feeding distillers, make sure that you get a good mix and all calves have an opportunity to eat their share. Dried distillers grains and dry hay poses some challenges as it is difficult to get a uniform mix and the DDG will sort and you don't want that to happen, because sulfur may become an issue. Would not exceed .4% sulfur in the diet. That makes the modified or wet product more attractive as they add some moisture to the ration and you get a better mix. If you buy the dry, then including some silage in the ration will help. The amount of distillers to include will depend on the targeted ADG, but would not exceed over 1/3 of the diet on a dry matter basis. When including distiller in the diet, you will not need supplemental phosphorus. Infact you will need to add calcium to the diet. Ca to P ratio of 1.4:1 to 1.6 to 1 is as low.

Usually you can get distillers bought at about 95% the value of corn. If you were to compare the DDGS at $45/ ton and the modified DGS at $65 per ton you would need to get them on a like moisture content, so modified is usually 50% dry matter os $65/.50 = $130/ton at 100 percent dry matter and the DDGS is usually 90% dry matter so $45/.90 = $50/ton. So the best buy is the dry by far because you have to handle less moisture. The question would be can you handle it and can you get a good mix and uniform diet to deliver to the cattle? Sulfur is additive, meaning you will be getting sulfur from the distillers but also from water, etc.