Poultry feed can contain high DDGS levels

04-12-2007 | Home | News

Several researchers at Iowa State are studying the use of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) as a feed ingredient for poultry. A recent project showed that laying hen diets can be formulated with high amounts of corn DDGS without adversely affecting egg production and egg quality.

Laying hens in the project were fed a diet with up to
69% corn DDGS. “In the past, only reports of feeding 15% to 20% corn DDGS have
been available, but we showed we can feed as much as we want with no adverse
effects on egg production or quality, as long as we have a nutritionally
balanced diet,” Kristjan Bregendahl, assistant professor of poultry nutrition at
Iowa State said.

The project
involved 48 laying hens. Diets containing 0-, 23-, 46- and 69% corn DDGS were
fed for eight weeks after a four-week transition period during which the dietary
contents of corn DDGS were gradually increased.

Results
Egg production decreased as more DDGS was
included in the ration. Yet egg weight increased, so there was no significant
change in overall egg output. Feed consumption increased with higher levels of
corn DDGS, which led to an increase in nitrogen and dry matter manure excretion.

Long term effects
Bregendahl said more research is
needed with more hens to investigate potential long-term effects of feeding high
levels of corn DDGS. However, even with the small number of hens in the study,
he’s confident high levels of corn DDGS can be included in layer rations, as
long as the nutrient and energy contents of all feed ingredients are known, and
diets are formulated on a digestible amino acid basis.

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