Concentrates-Energy Feeds
*Grains are high in energy and low to moderate in protein content. Corn is the standard energy feed to which all others are compared, and is the most widely fed grain. Small grains like barley and oats have 85-95% of the energy value of corn, and they are higher in protein. Wheat is rapidly digested in the rumen and should not be fed at high levels.
*Molasses has 80% of the energy of corn and contains 14% more moisture. It is primarily a palatability enhancer or a carrier for other products such as NPN or minerals. It tends to be expensive per unit of energy.
*Fats and oils contain 2 to 2.25 times the amount of energy per pound as corn, but they should be used sparingly in cattle diets. Diets containing more than 5% fat can impair rumen function.
*High energy by-products include soybean hulls, hominy, distiller’s grains, brewer’s grains, corn gluten feed and wheat middlings (mids). The availability and cost of these by-products vary considerably depending on your location; however, they can often be a very economical source of energy. Some like corn gluten, brewer’s grains, and distiller’s grain also are moderate in protein content.