Effect of Rapid and Multiple Changes in Level of Distillers Dried Grain with Solubles (DDGS) in Broiler Diets on Performance and Carcass Characteristics

This study was conducted to evaluate the use of moderate to high levels of DDGS in broiler diets and to evaluate the effects of rapid and multiple changes in level of DDGS during the growth period. Diets were formulated to contain 0, 15, or 30% DDGS with diets formulated on the basis of digestible amino acids to meet levels typical of the U.S. broiler industry. Groups of birds were fed diets with these three levels of DDGS on a constant basis from 0 to 42 d of age. Other groups were fed 0 and 15% or 0 and 30% DDGS on alternate week basis, with one group starting with diets containing no DDGS and other groups starting with diets containing 15 or 30% DDGS. Four pens of 25 male broilers were fed each of the dietary treatments. At the conclusion of the study five representative birds per treatment were processed to determine dressing percentage and carcass yield. Birds fed diets containing 15% did not differ significantly in live performance or carcass characteristics from birds fed diets with no DDGS, whether fed on a continuous basis or alternated weekly between 0 and 15% DDGS. Birds that were continuously fed diets with 30% DDGS had significantly reduced body weight and feed intake at 35 and 42 d compared to birds fed the control diet with no DDGS and had reduced breast meat yield. When birds were fed diets with 0 or 30% DDGS alternating on a weekly basis live performance was approximately midway between that of birds fed diets with 0 or 30% continuously and similar to that of birds fed 15% DDGS on a constant basis, but breast meat yield tended to be reduced. The results of the study demonstrated the effective use of diets with 15% DDGS when formulated on a digestible amino acid basis and showed that abrupt removal of this level of DDGS did not adversely affect performance of broilers. Further studies are suggested to quantify reasons for reduced performance when fed diets containing 30% DDGS.