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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment » Agroecosystems Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #311217
Title: Formulating diets containing corn distillers dried grains with solubles on a net energy basis: Effects on pig performance and on energy and nutrient digestibility

Author
item Kerr, Brian
item GABLER, NICHOLAS - Iowa State University
item SHURSON, GERALD - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Professional Animal Scientist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2015
Publication Date: 11/30/2015
Citation: Kerr, B.J., Gabler, N., Shurson, G. 2015. Formulating diets containing corn distillers dried grains with solubles on a net energy basis: Effects on pig performance and on energy and nutrient digestibility. Professional Animal Scientist. 31(6):497-503. doi: 10.15232/pas.2015-01445.

Interpretive Summary: The expansion of the ethanol biofuel industry has generated a variety of co-products which in general are a good source of digestible and metabolizable energy for swine, but relatively low net energy content. To date, little information is available on formulating diets containing distillers dried grains with solubles on a net energy basis. Overall, the performance and carcass dressing percent data suggest that the net energy levels, as well as amino acid and mineral levels, estimated for corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, and the distillers dried grains with solubles were relatively accurate given that pig performance and dressing percent were unaffected by the distillers dried grains with solubles inclusion level. The data presented herein support the use of formulating diets on a net energy basis, which is especially important in utilizing alternative feedstuffs in swine feed formulation. This information is important for nutritionists at universities, feed companies, and swine production facilities for estimated energy values of distillers dried grains with solubles for use in feed formulations, and provides a basis from which to assess its economic value.

Technical Abstract: A field-scale study was conducted to determine if formulating diets containing corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, and corn dried distillers grains with solubles (C-DDGS) on an equal NE basis would impact pig performance. Two additional studies were conducted to determine the DE and ME of these same diets (Exp. 2) and the same C-DDGS sample (Exp. 3) to generate data to support results obtained from the field trial. In Exp. 1, 3 barns, each containing 48 pens and 20 pigs per pen (2,880 pigs) were used. Diets were formulated to contain 0, 10, 20, and 30% C-DDGS, with dietary NE and standardized ileal digestible Lys being equal across all C-DDGS levels. The NE values (kcal/kg as-is) used in feed formulation were: corn, 2,557; soybean meal, 1,960; soybean oil, 7,544, and C-DDGS, 2,284; respectively. Diets were additionally formulated to meet or exceed the AA and minerals needs according to the NRC (1998) recommendations. There were no differences (P = 0.10) noted for pig ADG, ADFI, or G:F among pigs fed the different C-DDGS levels when evaluated on d-28 (36 replications per treatment) or on d-39 (24 replications per treatment due to scale calibration error). In addition, there was no effect of dietary treatment on dressing percent (P = 0.10) noted, suggesting that the estimates of NE, AA, and minerals used for feed formulation were relatively accurate. When the complete diets were fed to pigs in metabolism crates (Exp. 2), ATTD of DM, ether extract, NDF, and phosphorus; and dietary DE and ME increased with increasing C-DDGS levels (P = 0.05). In Exp. 3, the ME in the C-DDGS used in Exp. 1 and 2 was determined to be 3,682 kcal/kg DM, which was similar to the formulated value of 3,702 kcal ME/kg DM. Overall, the performance and dressing percent data suggest that the NE levels, as well as AA and mineral levels, used for corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, and C-DDGS were relatively accurate given that pig performance and dressing percent was unaffected by C-DDGS inclusion level. Differences in ATTD of dietary DM, ether extract, NDF, and phosphorus could be directly related to digestibility differences in these nutrients C-DDGS compared to corn, soybean meal, and soybean oil. The data presented herein support the use of formulating diets on a NE basis, which is especially important in utilizing alternative feedstuffs in swine feed formulation.