Behavioral responses to adaptation diets using wet corn gluten feed branded Sweet Bran (SB-WCGF) or wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) were evaluated. Six ruminally cannulated steers (300 ± 22 kg) at 11 mo of age were assigned randomly using a CRD experiment to one of 2 adaptation strategies including either SB-WCGF or WDGS. Steers were fed a series of 6 diets: 4 adaptation steps, a finishing, and a finishing blend diet. The first step included 87.5% DM of either SB-WCGF or WDGS, with 0% dry rolled corn (DRC), and was reduced to 35% of the finishing diet over a period of 4 steps (7 d each), and increasing the level of DRC to 52.5%. Diets also included 7.5% alfalfa hay and 5% supplement. Blend diet (50:50) contained WDGS and SB-WCGF (17.5% of each, DM basis). Behavioral status (24 h) was recorded by video cameras strategically located on top of individual pens. Behavior was evaluated every 5 min during d-4 of each period, and it was noted whether the steers were resting or ruminating, as well as standing up or lying down, eating, or drinking. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedures of SAS, and blend diet was used as a covariate. Steers fed SB-WCGF strategy spent more time (P < 0.10) ruminating while lying down than WDGS in steps 1 and 4 (223 vs. 93; 289 vs. 77 min/d, respectively); and tended (P ≤ 0.15) for similar pattern for total rumination in steps 1, 2, and 4 (259 vs. 105; 323 vs. 129; and 321 vs. 65 min/d, for SB-WCGF and WDGS strategies, respectively). Steers fed SB-WCGF strategy also spent more time (P < 0.10) ruminating per percentage unit of NDF in step 4 (11.38 vs. 2.29 min-d/%NDF, respectively), as well as tended (P ≤ 0.15) to spend more time chewing (ruminating plus eating activities) than WDGS strategy in step 4 (418 vs. 227 min/d). Steers fed WDGS strategy had greater (P < 0.10) time resting while standing up in steps 2 and 3 (267 vs. 174; 283 vs. 211 min/d; respectively). Overall, the SB-WCGF adaptation strategy shows a more desirable rumination pattern during adaptation to DRC-based finishing diets in feedlot steers than strategy using WDGS.