Nutritional quality of eggs from hens fed distillers dried grains with solubles

Authors: TRUPIA, SABRINA - Southern Illinois University; Moser, Jill; GUNEY, A C - University Of Georgia; BECKSTEAD, ROBERT - University Of Georgia; CHEN, CHUNG-YEN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2016
Publication Date: 4/26/2016
Citation: Trupia, S., Moser, J.K., Guney, A., Beckstead, R., Chen, C. 2016. Nutritional quality of eggs from hens fed distillers dried grains with solubles. Poultry Science. doi: 10.3382/ps/pew142.

Interpretive Summary: Distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are a by-product of the fuel ethanol industry. DDGS have been used as feed, primarily for ruminant animals for several decades. DDGS production has increased six-fold in the past decade, as the dry-grind ethanol industry in the US has expanded. During fermentation, the non-starch components of corn including fiber, lipids, minerals, and protein, are concentrated in DDGS. Studies have shown that many of corn’s natural lipophilic phytochemicals, including plant cholesterols, vitamin E, and carotenoids, are also enriched in DDGS. It is estimated that over 90% of Americans do not consume enough vitamin E in the diet to meet the estimated average requirement. Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidant carotenoids that may help protect eyes from the development of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Since DDGS is enriched in many of these components, it is of interest to determine if the incorporation of DDGS in laying hen diets might increase their concentrations in egg yolks, thus enhancing their overall nutritional quality. We found that eggs from layers fed DDGS had enhanced levels of vitamin E and lutein in the yolk. Fatty acid composition in eggs was slightly altered by DDGS, but the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was very similar. Thus, inclusion of DDGS in the diet of laying hens resulted in increases of vitamin E and lutein in eggs, whose nutrition quality is enhanced.

Technical Abstract: A feeding trial was conducted with laying hens where either 10% or 20% regular-fat distiller’s dried grains with solubles (R-DDGS) or low-fat DDGS (L-DDGS) were incorporated into the feed. Production parameters and the effect of DDGS on egg nutritional quality, focusing on yolk lipids, were evaluated. Neither R-DDGS nor L-DDGS at up to 20% of laying hen feeds had a statistically significant impact on hen weight gain, egg production, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg mass, or egg weight. Specific gravity was slightly lower for eggs from hens fed 10% R-DDGS or 20% L-DDGS. Eggs from layers fed DDGS had enhanced levels of tocopherols, tocotrienols, and xanthophylls in the yolk, as well as also increased yolk yellow and red color. Eggs from L-DDGS diet had higher tocopherol content, but eggs from R-DDGS diets had higher xanthophylls. Fatty acid composition in eggs was slightly altered by DDGS, but the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was very similar. Feeding DDGS to layer hens had no effect on lecithin or cholesterol content of the eggs. Thus, inclusion of DDGS in the diet of laying hens resulted in increases of several beneficial lipophilic nutrients in egg yolks with no apparent detrimental effects.