Determination of the microbial community in the rumen and fecal matter of lactating dairy cows fed on reduced-fat dried distillers grains with solubles

Reduced fat dried distillers grains with solubles, RFDDGS, is a coproduct of ethanol production, and contains less fat than traditional distiller grain. RFDDGS is a suitable ration ingredient to support the high-producing dairy cow, as a promising alternative protein source. The rumen and fecal bacterial communities of lactating dairy cows were not significantly influenced by the introduction of RFDDGS, and did not impose any serious short-term consequences on these animals.