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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310859
Title: Effects of increasing inclusion rates of a low-fat distillers dried grains with solubles (LF-DDGS) in finishing broiler diets

Author
item Kim, Elizabeth
item Purswell, Joseph - Jody
item Branton, Scott

Submitted to: International Journal of Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2015
Publication Date: 4/26/2016
Citation: Kim, E.J., Purswell, J.L., Branton, S.L. 2016. Effects of increasing inclusion rates of a low-fat distillers dried grains with solubles (LF-DDGS) in finishing broiler diets. International Journal of Poultry Science. 15(5):182-187.

Interpretive Summary: The biodiesel industry is continuing to expand and to meet increasing demand, corn oil is now being removed from distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS). The removal of oil has changed the nutritional composition of DDGS by lowering the total fat content. Extensive research has been conducted on the use of conventional, non-oil extracted low fat DDGS and the inclusion rates in broiler diets. The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal inclusion rates of an oil-extracted low fat DDGS in broiler diets during the finisher phase of production (28 to 42 d of age). Experimental diets were formulated to contain 0,8, 16, 24, or 30% LF-DDGS. Diets were formulated to be isocaloric and to meet or exceed the minimum nutrient requirements. Birds were fed common diets until d 28, and all experimental diets were fed until d 42. Upon completion of the experimental period, all birds and feed were weighed to determine body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. On d 43, after an overnight fast, 6 birds per pen were tagged, weighed and processed to determine hot carcass weight and abdominal fat pad. After a period of chilling, carcasses were deboned to determine breast and tender weights. Final body weigh at 42 d was found to be significantly increased for birds fed 18% LF-DDGS in a broiler diet compared to diets fed either 24 or 30% LF-DDGS. Body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion were not affected but followed the same trend with a performance maximzed at 18% LF-DDGS inclusion. Absolute weights of the carcass, fat pad, and breast debone were not affected but carcass yield was significantly greater at 0 and 12% LF-DDGS inclusion rates with lower dressing percentage at 30% LF-DDGS added to the diet. It was concluded that up to 18% LF-DDGS could be added to broiler diets from 28 to 42 d of age in the finisher phases of production without any detrimental effects on growth performance and processing yields.

Technical Abstract: The biodiesel industry is now removing corn oil from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in order to meet increasing demand. The objectives of this study were to determine the maximum inclusion rates in broiler diets fed from 28 to 42 d of age in the finishing phases of production and the subsequent effects on live performance and carcass characteristics. Experimental diets were formulated to contain 0, 8, 16, 18, 24, or 30% LF-DDGS. Diets were formulated to be isocaloric and to meet or exceed the minimum nutrient requirements. Birds were fed common diets until d 28 and experimental diets were fed until d 42. Upon completion of the experimental period, all birds and feed were weighed to determine body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. All mortality were recorded daily and feed conversion was adjusted for mortality. On d 43, after an overnight fast, 6 birds per pen were tagged, weighed and processed to determine hot carcass weight and abdominal fat pad. After a period of chilling, carcasses were deboned to determine breast and tender weights. Final body weight at 42 d was found to be significantly increased (P<0.05) for birds fed 18% LF-DDGS in a broiler diet when compared to diets fed either 24 or 30% LF-DDGS. Body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion were not affected but followed the same trend with performance maximized at 18% LF-DDGS. Carcass, abdominal fat pad, and breast debone weights were not affected but carcass yield was significantly greater (P<0.05) at 0 and 12% LF-DDGS with a significantly lower dressing percentage at 30% LF-DDGS added to the diet. Up to 18% LF-DDGS can be added to broiler diets in the finisher phase of production without any detrimental effects on growth performance and processing yields.