Metabolism and Nutrition: Enzymes

Wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (WDDGS) is a by-product that can be an alternative feed ingredient for poultry. However, WDDGS contains non-starch polysaccharides which limit its dietary inclusion. The objective of the current trial was to evaluate the effect of WDDGS with or without Endofeed W on egg quality and performance of laying hens. Endofeed W is a commercial enzyme including arabinoxylanase and β-glucanase. A factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with 4 replicates consisting of 5 levels of WDDGS (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) and 2 levels of Endofeed W (0 and 0.05%) were evaluated. Ten mash diets were fed to 320 commercial Hy-Line W-36 hens from 51 weeks of age for 12 weeks. Each experimental unit consisted of 2 cages with 4 birds each. Performance criteria, such as feed intake, body weight and egg production, were monitored during the trial. Four eggs were randomly selected from each experimental unit to measure egg characteristics every other week. The data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS. Hens fed diets containing WDDGS produced eggs lower on the Roche Yolk Color Fan scale. Endofeed W significantly (P < 0.05) improved overall feed efficiency and daily egg mass. There was no significant effect of WDDGS, Endofeed W or their interaction on hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg specific gravity, shell weight percentage, shell thickness and percentage of soft-shelled and cracked or broken eggs. In conclusion, WDDGS can be partly included in layer’s diet.