2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): Determine digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in three samples of oil extracted dried distillers grains with solubles (OE-DDGS), validate prediction equations previously determined for OE-DDGS fed to growing pigs, and determine net energy (NE) of these same OE-DDGS sources. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): 1. Obtain three samples of OE-DDGS and analyze for crude protein, ether extract, starch, fiber, ash, and minerals. 2. Conduct DE and ME digestibility study with pigs fed the three OE-DDGS sources and compare the determined DE and ME values to predicted values using a prediction equation generated from a previous experiment. 3. Feed the three samples of OE-DDGS to growing pigs for 28 days and determine NE of each OE-DDGS source utilizing the whole body composition technique. 3.Progress Report: This research is designed to:. 1)refine digestible and metabolizable energy (DE and ME, respectively) values for dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) ranging in crude fat content from 5 to 14%;. 2)validate DE and ME prediction equations determined for DDGS of varying fat content that were determined in past research;. 3)determine the net energy (NE) content in these same DDGS sources; and. 4)validate NE in a commercial setting. Objectives 1 and 2: DE and ME Refinement and Equation Validation. As of June 15, 2012, 2 groups of 24 gilts have completed the metabolism portion of the trial with the final group scheduled to occur June 29 through July 27, 2012. Following this animal portion of the trial, laboratory analysis will be underway in earnest. Objective 3: NE Determination and Equation Development. The NE trial is scheduled from July 9 through August 6, 2012. Objective 4: NE Validation. The validation trial was scheduled to begin in September 2012, but in discussions with the commercial collaborator, we will start this experiment after all of Phase 1 has been completed and summarized, with an estimated date of March 2013.