Effect of Corn Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Growing-Finishing Gilts with Previous Exposure to DDGS in the Nursery

The inclusion of high concentrations of DDGS (30%) in both the nursery and growing-finishing periods may result in negative effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Summary The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the efiects of high concentrations of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS; 30%) on growth performance and carcass characteristics ofgilts, duringgrowing-finishing, that were previously fed high concentrations of DDGS during the nursery phase. Overall (week I to 16), the following observations are noteworthy: 1) among pigs that were fed DDGS in the nursery, average daily gain (ADG) and final body weight (BW) tended (P < 0.10) to be lower duringgrowing-finishing compared to pigs that did not receive DDGS in the nursery; 2) amongpigs that received DDGS duringgrowing-finishing, ADG tended (P < 0.10) to be lower compared to pigs that did not receive DDGS duringgrowing-finishing; and 3) amongpigs that received DDGS in both the nursery and duringgrowing-finishing , ADG and final BW was decreased (P < 0.04) compared to pigs with no prior exposure to DDGS. With respect to carcass characteristics, loth-rib back fat was greater (P < 0.05) at the end offin-isher 2 amongpigs that did not receive DDGS in the nursery and hot carcass weight tended (P < 0.07) to be decreased amongpigs that received DDGS in both the nursery and duringgrowing-finishing. This research indicates that the inclusion of high concentrations of DDGS in both the nursery and growing-finishingperiods may result in negative efiects on growth performance and carcass characteristics.