Energy and Standardized Ileal Amino Acid Digestibilities of Chinese Distillers Dried Grains, Produced from Different Regions and Grains Fed to Growing Pigs*

Two experiments were conducted to determine the digestibility of crude protein (CP), amino acids and energy in three Chinese corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), one rice DDGS, one American corn DDGS and one American high protein distillers dried grains (HP-DDG). In Exp. 1, the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and amino acids in the six samples were determined using cannulated barrows (initial BW: 43.3±1.7 kg). In Exp. 2, the digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) content of these six samples were determined using crossbred barrows (initial BW: 46.0±2.5 kg). The results of the two experiments indicated that Chinese corn DDGS is generally similar to American DDGS in chemical composition, digestibility of amino acids, DE and ME. However, Chinese DDGS had a lower Lys concentration (0.50% vs. 0.74%) and SID Lys (52.3% vs. 57.0%, p<0.01). The DE and ME values in Chinese corn DDGS were 3,427 and 3,306 kcal/kg, respectively. Rice DDGS had a similar DE and ME (3,363 and 3,228 kcal/kg) but higher Lys concentration (0.64% vs. 0.50%) to corn DDGS, while the SID of Lys was quite low (61.8%, p<0.01). HP-DDG had high value of SID of Lys, DE and ME (79.8%, 3,899 and 3,746 kcal/kg). In conclusion, except for a lower Lys concentrations and availability, the chemical composition, digestibility of amino acids, DE and ME values in Chinese corn DDGS are similar to American corn DDGS. Additionally, the rice DDGS had lower Lys content and digestible Lys values than that in corn DDGS. Thirdly, HP-DDG has higher levels of digestible amino acids and energy than DDGS.