title: Evaluation of distillers dried grains with solubles as a feed ingredient for broilers.
abstract: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) from modern ethanol plants in broiler diets. Experiment 1 was a 2 x 2 factorial experiment with diets containing 2 levels of DDGS (0 and 15%) and 2 diet densities (high and low). The high- and low-density diets were formulated to contain 22% CP and 3,050 kcal MEn/kg and 20% CP and 3,000 kcal MEn/kg, respectively. Eight pens of 6 chicks were fed an experimental diet from 0 to 18 d of age. Weight gain and feed efficiency (gain:feed ratio) of the chicks receiving the high-density diets were (P < 0.05) better than those of chicks fed the low-density diets. However, within the 2 density levels there was no difference in performance of chicks fed diets with 0 or 15% DDGS. In experiment 2, 6 replications of 50 chicks were fed 1 of 4 dietary treatments for 42 d. The diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous and contained 0, 6, 12, or 18% DDGS. There was no significant difference in performance or carcass yield throughout the 42 d experiment except for a depression in BW gain and feed conversion when chicks were fed diets with 18% DDGS in the starter period. These studies indicate that DDGS from modern ethanol plants is an acceptable feed ingredient for broiler diets and can be safely used at 6% in the starter period and 12 to 15% in the grower and finisher periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lumpkins
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Batal
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Dale
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015430:Weight Gain