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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #220475
Title: Nutrient excretion, phosphorus characterization, and phosphorus solubility in excreta from broiler checks fed diets containing graded levels of wheat distillers grains with solubles

Author
item Leytem, April
item Kwanyuen, Prachuab
item THACKER, P - University Of Saskatchewan

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/2/2008
Publication Date: 12/1/2008
Citation: Leytem, A.B., Kwanyuen, P., Thacker, P. 2008. Nutrient excretion, phosphorus characterization, and phosphorus solubility in excreta from broiler checks fed diets containing graded levels of wheat distillers grains with solubles. Poultry Science. 87(12):2505-2511.

Interpretive Summary: The increase in ethanol production in North America has led to the generation of large quantities of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) as a byproduct. These DDGS can be valuable feedstuffs for ruminant and mono-gastric animals. Previous research has demonstrated that DDGS can be included in poultry diets at rates as high as 15% with little impact on production. Although the inclusion of DDGS in poultry feeds is beneficial from a nutritional standpoint, there has been no data generated regarding the impacts of feeding DDGS on nutrient excretion from poultry and the potential environmental impacts. To determine the impact of including graded levels of wheat DDGS in broiler diets on nutrient excretion and manure phosphorus (P) characterization and solubility, 125 day-old male broiler chicks were fed diets based on wheat/soybean meal containing 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20% wheat DDGS. There were five replicate pens per treatment with five birds per pen arranged in a randomized block design. Total tract apparent digestibility of both nitrogen (N) and P were determined using the indicator method. Nutrients excreted per kg of dry matter intake (DMI) were also calculated. The P characterization of manure was determined using 31-P solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and water soluble P (WSP) determined by extraction of manure with deionized water. The total tract apparent digestibility of both N and P decreased linearly with increasing dietary inclusion of DDGS, which increased both N and P excretion from the bird. As the inclusion of DDGS increased, there was an increase in manure inorganic phosphate concentrations with a concomitant decrease in manure phytate P concentration, leading to an increase in manure water soluble P and an increase in the proportion of total P that was soluble. As the inclusion of DDGS in poultry diets decreased nutrient digestibility, increased both N and P output, and increased the solubility of P excreted, care should be taken when including DDGS in poultry diets as they can be a concern from an environmental standpoint.

Technical Abstract: The increase in production of ethanol in North America has led to increased production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), the majority of which are fed to livestock. While there is evidence that DDGS can be included into poultry diets at rates as high as 15%, there has been no data regarding the impacts of feeding DDGS at these rates on nutrient excretion and potential environmental impacts. To determine the impact of including graded levels of wheat DDGS in broiler diets on nutrient excretion and phosphorus (P) characterization and solubility, 125 day-old male broiler chicks were fed diets based on wheat/soybean meal containing 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20% wheat DDGS. There were five replicate pens per treatment with five birds per pen arranged in a randomized block design. Total tract apparent digestibility of both N and P were determined using the indicator method. Nutrients excreted per kg of dry matter intake (DMI) were also calculated. The P characterization of feces was determined using 31-P solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and water soluble P (WSP) determined by extraction of feces with deionized water. The total tract apparent digestibility of both nitrogen (N; P < 0.001) and P (P < 0.008) decreased linearly with increasing inclusion rates of DDGS from 0 to 20%. The nutrient output per kg DMI increased linearly with increased DDGS inclusion rate for N (P < 0.04), P (P < 0.0001) and WSP (P < 0.0003). As the inclusion rate of DDGS increased, the fecal phosphate concentrations increased (P < 0.008) while fecal phytate concentrations decreased (P < 0.01), which led to an increase in WSP and the fraction of total P that was soluble. As the inclusion of DDGS in poultry diets decreased nutrient digestibility, increased both N and P output, and increased the solubility of P excreted, care should be taken when including DDGS in poultry diets as they can be a concern from an environmental standpoint.