In response to the shutdown resulting from the spread of COVID-19, the team of Beef extension specialists and faculty developed a series of weekly agent updates and trainings using the Zoom video conferencing platform. On April 23^rd, 2020 the topic that was presented was “Alternatives to distillers’ grains in beef cattle diets”. Distillery by-products are a common staple in beef cattle diets and are used to supply protein. These by-products are produced as part of the beverage and fuel ethanol industries. In response to COVID-19, many fuel ethanol plants throughout the country experienced unexpected shutdowns due to the rapid decrease in demand for ethanol. This led to sudden increases in cost of distillers’ grains, which are normally a very cost-effective ingredient, followed by the complete unavailability of by-products. Although this was an unforeseen circumstance, shutdowns of ethanol plants occur routinely due to maintenance, thus it is important to know what types of alternative feed stuffs are available and how to properly and safely include them in the diets of cattle. 

This online training was attended by 61 county extension agents and following the training a link to a google form-based survey was sent out to participants to provide feedback on the presentation. The survey received 26 responses. 

When asked to rate their knowledge of using price per lb of crude protein as a method to compare protein sources before the presentation on a scale of 1 (No prior knowledge) to 5 (Highly knowledgeable) the average response was: 2.9. Following the training the average response was 4.1. All results are depicted in figure 1. 

Figure 1. Agent rating of knowledge of using price per lb of crude protein as a method to compare protein sources before and after training.

When asked to rate their knowledge of safely feeding non-protein nitrogen sources to cattle to meet protein requirements before the presentation on a scale of 1 (No prior knowledge) to 5 (highly knowledgeable) the average response was 2.7. Following the training the average response was 4. All results are depicted in figure 2. 

Figure 2. Agent rating of knowledge of safely feeding non-protein nitrogen sources to cattle to meet protein requirements before and after training. 

When asked to rate their knowledge of replacing energy from distillers’ grains in the diets of beef cattle before the presentation on a scale of 1 (No prior knowledge) to 5 (highly knowledgeable) the average response was 3.0. Following the training the average response 4.3. All results are depicted in figure 3. 

Figure 3. Agent rating of knowledge of how to replace energy from distillers’ grains in the diets of beef cattle before and after training. 

When asked if the information presented in the training was useful, 96.2% of responding agents rated the material as useful for very useful, and that participating in the training was either an effective or very effective use of their time.