Amino acid digestibility in low-fat distillers dried grains with solubles fed to growing pigs

Effects of Low-Fat Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles Supplementation on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation, Blood Metabolites, and Carcass Characteristics of Kiko Crossbred Wether Goats

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) produced in US are predominately low fat, as the economics favor separating as much oil as possible for sale as renewable diesel feedstock and also for use in swine and poultry feed. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding different amounts of low-fat DDGS (LF-DDGS) on growth performance, growth efficiency, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, and carcass characteristics of Kiko crossbred wether goats. Twenty-four goats, 5−6 months of age, were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental diets (n = 6/diet), 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% LF-DDGS on an as-fed basis, and fed for 84 days. Data collected were analyzed using an orthogonal contrast test for equally spaced treatments. Average total gains, average daily gains, and gain-to-feed ratios were similar among the treatments (p > 0.05). Rumen acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations and acetate: propionate ratios were similar (p > 0.05) among treatments. There were no differences (p > 0.05) among treatments for dressing percentage, rib eye area, and backfat thickness. Findings suggest that at least up to 30% LF-DDGS can be included in diets of castrated male goats without affecting production performance and carcass characteristics.

Corn protein has greater concentrations of digestible amino acids and energy than low-oil corn distillers dried grains with solubles when fed to pigs but does not affect the growth performance of weanling pigs

Three experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) and digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in a new source of corn protein are greater than in corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and that corn protein may be included in diets for weanling pigs. In experiment 1, the SID of AA was determined in two sources of DDGS (DDGS-1 and DDGS-2) and in corn protein. Results indicated that SID of most AA was greater (P < 0.05) in DDGS-2 and corn protein than in DDGS-1, but corn protein contained more digestible AA than both sources of DDGS. In experiment 2, the DE and ME in corn, the two sources of DDGS, and corn protein were determined. Results demonstrated that DE (dry matter basis) in corn protein was greater (P < 0.05) than in corn, but ME (dry matter basis) was not different between corn and corn protein. However, DE and ME in corn (dry matter basis) were greater (P < 0.05) than in DDGS-1 and DDGS-2. In experiment 3, 160 weanling pigs were allotted to four treatments in phases 1 and 2 and a common diet in phase 3. Corn protein was included at 5% to 10% in phases 1 and 2 at the expense of plasma protein and enzyme-treated soybean meal. Results indicated that although differences in average daily gain and gain to feed ratio were observed in phase 1, no differences among treatments were observed for the overall experimental period. In conclusion, the concentration of digestible AA is greater in corn protein than in DDGS; DE and ME in corn protein are also greater than in DDGS; and up to 10% corn protein may be included in phase 1 and phase 2 diets for weanling pigs.

Digestibility of amino acids, but not fiber, fat, or energy, is greater in cold-fermented, low-oil distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) compared with conventional DDGS fed to growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that the digestibility of gross energy (GE) and nutrients, and concentrations of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in two sources of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are not different despite different concentrations of fat in the two sources. Cold-fermented DDGS (6.82% fat) and a conventional DDGS (9.54% fat) were used. In experiment 1, 12 growing barrows (initial body weight = 55.2 ± 3.6 kg) that had a T-cannula installed in the distal ileum were allotted to one of three diets and two periods. Two diets contained either cold-fermented or conventional DDGS as the sole source of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA). The third diet was an N-free diet that was used to determine the basal endogenous losses of AA from the pigs. Each experimental period lasted 7 d and ileal digesta were collected on days 6 and 7 of each period. Results demonstrated that values for the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and most AA were greater (P < 0.05) or tended to be greater (P < 0.10) in cold-fermented than in conventional DDGS. In experiment 2, 24 barrows (initial body weight = 17.3 ± 1.3 kg) were randomly allotted to three diets with 8 replicate pigs per diet. A corn-based basal diet and two diets containing corn and either cold-fermented DDGS or conventional DDGS were formulated. Pigs were housed individually in metabolism crates and feces and urine were collected separately for 5 d after 7 d of adaptation. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid-hydrolyzed ether extract (AEE) was greater (P < 0.01) in conventional DDGS than in cold-fermented DDGS, but there was no difference in ATTD of GE between the two sources of DDGS. However, conventional DDGS contained more (P < 0.001) DE and ME than cold-fermented DDGS because of greater GE. In conclusion, the SID of AA was greater in cold-fermented DDGS than in the conventional DDGS that was evaluated in this experiment, but the ATTD of NDF, ADF, and AEE, and ME were greater in conventional DDGS than in cold-fermented DDGS.

Lack of interactive effects between diet composition and acid addition with drying method on amino acid digestibility values in porcine ileal digesta

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of oven drying (OD) or freeze drying (FD) on apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of AA in diets fed to pigs. In experiment 1, 15 barrows (88.4 ± 6.4 kg) were allotted to either a corn starch-soybean meal (CST), potato starch-soybean meal (PST), or corn-soybean meal (CSBM) diet, over 2 collection periods. Following collection, samples were pooled within pig and subdivided into either OD or FD, resulting in 10 observations per diet by drying-method combination. In experiment 2, 11 barrows (63.3 ± 3.8 kg) were fed a CST diet, and, following collection, samples were pooled within pig and subdivided and either adjusted to pH 4 or remain unadjusted. Subsets of these samples were then subdivided to be either FD or OD, resulting in 11 observations per pH level by drying-method combination. OD was accomplished by drying samples in a forced air oven at either 100 °C (experiment 1) or 75 °C (experiment 2). In experiment 1, there was no diet type by drying-method interactions noted for any of the AA (P > 0.10).OD resulted in a higher AID of AA compared with samples which were FD (P ≤ 0.10), for all AA except for Gly and Tyr. Averaged across all AA, AID of AA was 3.3% greater if the sample was OD compared with FD. Differences in AID of AA among the 3 diets were noted for all AA (P ≤ 0.07), except for Cys (P = 0.33), due to the fact that CST and PST diets only contained soybean meal (SBM) as an AA-providing ingredient while the CSBM diet contained both corn and SBM. Pigs fed the PST diet had greater SID for all AA compared with pigs fed the CST diet (P ≤ 0.05), except for His, Lys, Cys, and Glu. In experiment 2, there were no pH-adjustment by drying-method interactions noted on AID for any of the AA (P > 0.10). Adjusting ileal digesta to a pH of 4.0 had little effect on AID for most of the AA, except for a lowered AID of Arg, His, Lys, Trp, and Ser (P ≤ 0.10). OD resulted in a higher AID for all AA (P ≤ 0.09) except for Ile, Thr, Val, Ala, Asp, Glu, and Gly. Averaged across all AA, the increase in AID of AA was 1.7% greater if the sample was OD compared with FD. On average, OD of ileal digesta resulted in a 2.5% greater estimate of AID of AA compared with samples that were FD, and was not diet-, pH-, or AA-dependent. Because the majority of the data on AA digestibility are based on FD, a bias factor may be necessary to adjust AA digestibility data obtained on an OD-basis relative to an FD-basis for use in feed formulation.

Amino acid composition and digestible amino acid content in animal protein by-product meals fed to growing pigs1

An industry survey and animal experiment were conducted to evaluate the amino acid (AA) compositional variability and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in animal protein by-products fed to growing pigs. Animal protein by-product meals (212) were categorized into 8 groupings (blood meal, chicken by-product meal, chicken meal, feather meal, meat and bone meal, meat meal, poultry by-product meal, and poultry meal) and analyzed for total AA. Amino acid analysis among (e.g., Lys in blood meal averaged 9.20% compared with 2.31% for feather meal, DM basis) and within (e.g., Lys range of 1.54% in blood meal and 1.44% in feather meal, DM basis) the by-product classifications varied as expected, but on average the total AA values were similar to that reported in the literature. For the determination of the SID of AA, 15 barrows (average initial and final BW of 31.6 and 78.7 kg, respectively) were fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and allotted to 15 diets over nine 7-d periods, resulting in 9 replications per diet. Pigs were fed a basal diet based on soybean meal and dehulled-degermed corn, 13 diets containing 17.5% animal protein by-product meal to partially replace a portion of the soybean meal and dehulled-degermed corn in the basal diet, or a N-free diet. Pigs were re-allotted to diets based on minimizing the number to times that the N-free diet would precede or follow feeding either of the blood or feather meal diets because of concern with inadequate diet consumption, as well as to prevent diets from being re-fed to the same pig during the next or subsequent periods. Values for the apparent ileal AA digestibility of each diet were determined, adjusted to SID based upon the endogenous AA losses determined by feeding the N-free diet, and the SID of AA in each animal protein by-product meal calculated using the difference procedure. The SID of AA varied among (e.g., SID of Lys averaged 91% in chicken meal but 47% in feather meal) and within (e.g., SID of Lys in three meat and bone meals was 80%, 71%, and 54%) the animal protein by-product meals, as would be expected and are consistent with variation reported in the literature. Overall, the data provide total AA composition for 212 samples and SID of AA for 13 samples of animal protein by-product meals, including data on their variability, which is critical for their use in feed formulation programs.

Structures and characteristics of carbohydrates in diets fed to pigs: a review

The current paper reviews the content and variation of fiber fractions in feed ingredients commonly used in swine diets. Carbohydrates serve as the main source of energy in diets fed to pigs. Carbohydrates may be classified according to their degree of polymerization: monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Digestible carbohydrates include sugars, digestible starch, and glycogen that may be digested by enzymes secreted in the gastrointestinal tract of the pig. Non-digestible carbohydrates, also known as fiber, may be fermented by microbial populations along the gastrointestinal tract to synthesize short-chain fatty acids that may be absorbed and metabolized by the pig. These non-digestible carbohydrates include two disaccharides, oligosaccharides, resistant starch, and non-starch polysaccharides. The concentration and structure of non-digestible carbohydrates in diets fed to pigs depend on the type of feed ingredients that are included in the mixed diet. Cellulose, arabinoxylans, and mixed linked β-(1,3) (1,4)-d-glucans are the main cell wall polysaccharides in cereal grains, but vary in proportion and structure depending on the grain and tissue within the grain. Cell walls of oilseeds, oilseed meals, and pulse crops contain cellulose, pectic polysaccharides, lignin, and xyloglucans. Pulse crops and legumes also contain significant quantities of galacto-oligosaccharides including raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose. Overall, understanding the structure, characteristics and measurable chemical properties of fiber in feed ingredients may result in more accurate diet formulations, resulting in an improvement in the utilization of energy from less expensive high-fiber ingredients and a reduction in reliance on energy from more costly cereal grains.

Digestibility of amino acids, energy, acid hydrolyzed ether extract, and neutral detergent fiber, and concentration of digestible and metabolizable energy in low-oil distillers dried grains with solubles fed to growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that digestibility of amino acids (AA), gross energy (GE), acid hydrolyzed ether extract (AEE), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and values for metabolizable energy (ME) in low-oil distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) vary among suppliers. In Exp. 1, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of GE, AEE, and NDF, and concentration of ME were determined in eight sources of DDGS (sources A, B, C, D, E, G, H, and I). A corn-based basal diet and eight diets containing corn and each source of DDGS were fed to 72 barrows (initial body weight = 18.1 ± 1.3 kg) with eight pigs per diet. Feces and urine were collected for 5 d after 7 d of adaptation. The ME did not differ among the eight sources of DDGS with the exception that DDGS source E contained less (P < 0.05) ME than DDGS source D. The ATTD of GE did also not differ among the eight sources of DDGS, but ME and ATTD of GE in corn were greater (P < 0.05) than in the eight sources of DDGS. However, the ATTD of AEE in corn and the eight sources of DDGS was not different, but the ATTD of AEE in DDGS source E was greater (P < 0.05) than in DDGS source A. The ATTD of NDF in DDGS source D was also greater (P < 0.05) than in DDGS sources E, G, and H, but ATTD of NDF did not differ between corn and the eight sources of DDGS. In Exp. 2, standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA was determined in seven sources of DDGS (sources A, B, C, D, E, G, and H). Twenty-four barrows (initial body weight = 63.4 ± 3.4 kg) that had a T-cannula installed in the distal ileum were allotted to a two-period incomplete Latin square design with eight diets. Seven diets were formulated to contain each of the seven sources of DDGS and an N-free diet was also used. Ileal digesta were collected for 2 d after 5 d of adaptation. There were no differences between pigs fed DDGS sources A and B in SID of AA, and the SID of Lys, Met, and Trp did not differ among DDGS sources A, B, and E. However, SID of most indispensable and dispensable AA except Gly were greater (P < 0.05) in DDGS source B than in DDGS sources C, D, E, G, and H. In conclusion, variability in SID of AA, ATTD of NDF and AEE, and ME were observed among the sources of DDGS used in this experiment.

The Role of Biofuels Coproducts in Feeding the World Sustainably

One of the grand challenges facing our society today is finding solutions for feeding the world sustainably. The food-versus-fuel debate is a controversy embedded in this challenge, involving the trade-offs of using grains and oilseeds for biofuels production versus animal feed and human food. However, only 6% of total global grain produced is used to produce ethanol. Furthermore, biofuels coproducts contribute to sustainability of food production because only 1% to 2.5% of the overall energy efficiency is lost from converting crops into biofuels and animal feed, and approximately one-third of the corn used to produce ethanol is recovered as feed coproducts. Extensive research has been conducted over the past 15 years on biofuels coproducts to (a) optimize their use for improving caloric and nutritional efficiency in animal feeds, (b) identify benefits and limitations of use in various animal diets,

Effects of feeding diets containing distillers' dried grains with solubles and wheat middlings with equal predicted dietary net energy on growth performance and carcass composition of growing-finishing pigs

This experiment evaluated the effects of feeding distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and wheat middlings (WM) in diets with similar estimated NE content on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs. Pigs ( = 384; 29.1 ± 3.6 kg initial BW) were blocked by initial BW, and within blocks, pens were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments (8 pigs/pen and 12 replicates/treatment) in a 4-phase feeding program (29 to 50, 50 to 75, 75 to 100, and 100 to 120 kg BW). Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design and formulated to consist of: 1) corn and soybean meal (CON), 2) CON with 30% DDGS, 3) CON with 15% WM, and 4) CON with 30% DDGS and 15% WM. Diets met or exceeded nutrient requirements published by the and were formulated to contain the same concentrations of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys and meet or exceed minimum SID AA to Lys ratios within phases. No significant interactions for DDGS × WM × phase or DDGS × WM were observed for all growth performance criteria. Pigs fed diets containing 30% DDGS had reduced ( < 0.05) ADFI (1.76 vs. 1.86 kg/d) and ADG (0.85 vs. 0.91 kg/d) compared with pigs fed diets with no DDGS in phase 1 but not in other phases. The G:F of pigs fed diets containing DDGS was not different during phase 1 to 3 but was greater ( < 0.01) in phase 4 (0.313 vs. 0.291) compared with that of pigs fed diets with no DDGS. Pigs fed diets containing 15% WM had similar ADFI and G:F but reduced ( < 0.05) ADG (0.86 vs. 0.90 kg/d) compared with pigs fed diets without WM in phase 1, but no difference in ADG was observed in phases 2 to 4. No DDGS × WM interaction was observed for carcass traits. Pigs fed diets containing 30% DDGS had reduced ( < 0.01) HCW (86.5 vs. 89.9 kg), carcass yield (72.3 vs. 73.6%), LM area (45.0 vs. 47.9 cm), and percentage of carcass fat-free lean (52.1 vs. 53.4%), but backfat depth was not affected compared with pigs fed diets with no DDGS. Pigs fed diets containing 15% WM had lower carcass yield (72.7 vs. 73.1%; < 0.05) and HCW (87.7 vs. 88.7 kg; < 0.10) than pigs fed diets with no addition of WM, but other carcass traits were not affected. In conclusion, overall ADG and G:F were not affected by feeding 30% DDGS or 15% WM when diets were formulated on the NE basis, but more accurate and dynamic estimation of NE content for DDGS sources is needed to optimize caloric efficiency at different physiological ages of pigs.

Apparent ileal amino acid digestibility of reduced-oil distillers dried grains with solubles fed to broilers from 23 to 31 days of age

An experiment was conducted using male Ross×Ross 708 broiler chicks to determine the effect of oil extraction from corn distillers dried grains with solubles on apparent ileal amino acid digestibility from 23 to 31 d of age. On an as-fed basis, ether extract concentrations were determined as 5.4% (L-distillers dried grains with solubles), 7.9% (M-distillers dried grains with solubles), and 10.5% (H-distillers dried grains with solubles) for the 3 experimental distillers dried grains with solubles sources. Prior to experimentation, each sample (H-distillers dried grains with solubles (control), M-distillers dried grains with solubles and L-distillers dried grains with solubles) was analyzed on an as-fed basis for crude protein (29.2, 27.6, and 27.9%), starch (4.4, 5.2, and 6.1%), neutral detergent fiber (29.5, 33.2, and 29.9%), and total dietary fiber (31.4, 36.6, and 33.6 %). Four hundred and thirty-two male chicks (12 birds per cage; 0.04 m2 per bird) were randomly assigned to 36 battery grower cages. Broilers were fed one of 3 semi-purified diets, which were comprised of 76% L-distillers dried grains with solubles, M- distillers dried grains with solubles, or H-distillers dried grains with solubles as the sole amino acid source from 23 to 31 d of age. Apparent ileal amino acid digestibility coefficients were negatively affected (P<0.05) by oil extraction for Met (0.722, 0.788, and 0.791), Lys (0.504, 0.510, and 0.552), Thr (0.563, 0.566, and 0.612), Trp (0.708, 0.733, and 0.767), and Arg (0.762, 0.776, and 0.799) for L-distillers dried grains with solubles, M-distillers dried grains with solubles, and H-distillers dried grains with solubles, respectively. Conversely, no differences in apparent amino acid coefficients were reported for Ile, Leu, and Val. These results indicated that L-distillers dried grains with solubles had lower apparent amino acid digestibility coefficients for Met, Lys, Thr, Trp, and Arg compared with H-distillers dried grains with solubles.