Use of Constant or Increasing Levels of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) in Broiler Diets

A study was conducted to evaluate the use of constant or increasing levels of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) in diets for broilers. Diets were formulated for starter (0-14 d), grower (14 to 35 d) and finisher (35 to 42 d) periods to contain 0, 15, or 30% DDGS. Diets were formulated on digestible amino acid basis to meet current U.S. poultry industry nutrient levels and were maintained isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Varying levels of DDGS were fed during the study; with some birds receiving a constant level while others received increasing amounts as the bird aged. The DDGS levels used in the study were as follows (starter-grower-finisher, %): 1) 0-0-0; 2) 0-15-15; 3) 0-15-30; 4) 0-30-30; 5) 15-15-15; 6) 15-15-30; 7) 15-30-30; 8) 30-30-30. Starter diets were crumbled, while grower and finisher diets were pelleted. Each of the dietary treatments was fed to four replicate pens of 25 birds each. Body weights and feed consumption were determined at 14, 35 and 42 d of age. At the conclusion of the study five representative birds per pen were processed for dressing percentage and parts yield. The results indicated that increasing DDGS levels had a trend to reduce the weight:volume ratio and visually decreased pellet quality. Diets containing 15% DDGS could be fed throughout the entire feeding period of 1 to 42 d of age with no adverse effects on live performance or carcass composition when diets were formulated on a digestible amino acid basis. Inclusion of 30% DDGS in the diet reduced the weight:volume ratio and markedly reduced pellet quality. Birds fed diets with 30% DDGS during the starter or grower periods had reduced body weight, elevated feed conversion and typically had reduced breast meat yield, compared to birds fed diets with 15% DDGS or birds fed the control diet with no DDGS. Feeding DDGS for the last seven days prior to slaughter after being fed diets with 15% during starter or grower period might possibly be acceptable in terms of body weight gain and feed conversion but still resulted in a significant reduction in breast meat yield. It is possible that some of the essential amino acids that were not considered in the formulation of the diets may become marginal or deficient in diets with 30% DDGS. Further studies are suggested to evaluate needs for these amino acids in diets with high levels of DDGS.