Maximizing alternative protein ingredient use in market turkey diets

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is a corn derived co-product of the ethanol industry. Recent renewable fuels legislation is encouraging more production of ethanol, thus using more corn but resulting in greater supplies of DDGS available for animal feeding. As corn prices increase some relief could be provided by feeding DDGS as it would replace some corn and soybean meal in poultry diets. If economics allow, producers would like to maximize the use of an ingredient in the diet. Many current industry recommendations limit the use of DDGS to 5-10% of the diet when diet formulations could easily use 20% or more DDGS in the diet. This study examined the utilization of high levels of DDGS in turkey starter and grower rations by assessing performance of commercial market turkeys.