Effects of replacing barley grain with corn gluten feed and sugar beet pulp on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and milk production in high-producing Holstein dairy cow diets

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Master’s graduate and Associate Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor and PhD student, Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran, Email: ali.kahyani@saadi.shirazu.ac.ir

10.22069/ejrr.2025.23862.2016

Abstract

Effects of replacing barley grain with corn gluten feed and sugar beet pulp on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and milk production in high-producing Holstein dairy cow diets

Abstract
Background and Objective: Given the economic and nutritional importance of alternative sources to cereals in lactating dairy cow diets, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing barley grain with corn gluten feed and sugar beet pulp both individually and in combination on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, milk production and composition, and body condition of high-producing Holstein cows. While previous research has primarily assessed these by-products separately, this study investigated their combined effects on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and milk production in high-yielding dairy cows.

.Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted at the Lavark Research Station, Isfahan University of Technology, using 12 multiparous Holstein cows arranged in a 4×4 Latin square design with three squares, four periods, and four dietary treatments. Treatments included: 1) Control concentrate containing 43.7% barley grain without corn gluten feed or sugar beet pulp; 2) Replacement of 12% barley grain with corn gluten feed; 3) Replacement of 12% barley grain with sugar beet pulp; 4) Combination of 6% sugar beet pulp and 6% corn gluten feed replacing 12% barley grain. The forage-to-concentrate ratio was maintained constant at 40:60 across all diets. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS software.

Results: Replacing barley grain with the combination of 6% corn gluten feed and 6% sugar beet pulp significantly increased dry matter intake, organic matter and crude protein (CP) digestibility, milk yield, fat-corrected milk (3.5% FCM), energy-corrected milk (ECM), and yields of milk fat, protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat compared to the control diet. The diet containing 12% corn gluten feed alone improved dry matter intake compared to control but less effectively than the combined treatment. Conversely, the 12% sugar beet pulp diet reduced milk protein percentage relative to control and combined treatments, while milk fat percentage was not significantly affected by any of the diets. Body condition score, body weight, and backfat thickness were not influenced by the dietary treatments.

Conclusion: Replacing barley grain with a combination of 6% corn gluten feed and 6% sugar beet pulp in diets of lactating Holstein cows improved dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, and milk production without adverse effects on body condition. These findings highlight the efficiency of these alternative feedstuffs in optimizing dairy cow rations.

Keywords: Barley grain, Corn gluten feed, Lactating dairy cows, Milk production and composition, Sugar beet pulp

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Ruminant Research
Volume 14, Issue 1
June 2026
Pages 69-85

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