Yang, W. Z., Xu, L., Li, C. and Beauchemin, K. A. 2012. Short Communication: Effects of supplemental canola meal and various types of distillers' grains on growth performance of backgrounded steers. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 281-286. A growth study was conducted to investigate the effects of protein source on growth performance of backgrounded steers. Partly replacing barley grain with canola meal (CM), corn dried distillers' grains with solubles (cDDGS) or fractionated corn dried distillers grains with solubles (fDDGS) increased averaged daily gain and feed conversion efficiency of backgrounded steers. Steers fed corn DDGS (cDDGS, fDDGS) improved feed conversion efficiency compared with steers fed wheat dried distillers' grain with solubles (wDDGS). These results indicate that inclusion of protein ingredients in barley-based diets is necessary to improve growth performance of growing cattle. To maximize profits, the choice of protein source in cattle rations will depend upon availability and cost of ingredients.