Effects of Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) Under Hot Summer Conditions in Lactating Dairy Cows

Corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), once considered a by-product of fuel ethanol production, are a recognized feedstuff for livestock animals. Today, DDGS is attracting increasing attention and is manufactured under quality-controlled conditions as a main product for livestock feed. DDGS is also expected to be beneficial to the livestock industry, because recent research projects have revealed that it contains high levels of protein and fermentation products. In Japan, DDGS has been used to a limited extent, but its use is increasing dramatically. For example, the import of DDGS in 2008 has nearly doubled since the previous year. However, only a limited amount of information has been obtained about the properties of DDGS from feeding trials. In lactating dairy cows, in particular, the effect of DDGS on the physical condition and properties of raw 2 milk is poorly understood, hindering its full potential as a feedstuff in dairy cattle. Against such backgrounds, this trial aimed to add a set of key information on the use of DDGS in dairy cattle under