Research - Feeding quality of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for laying hens

Feeding quality of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for laying hens

Abstract

This project aims to characterise the chemical composition of UK produced wheat DDGS and investigate the bioavailability of energy and nutrients when fed to laying hens.

Description

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are a by-product of the bioethanol industry and have the potential to be used as a dietary component in poultry feed. Bioavailability of nutrients however, is highly variable depending on the type of DDGS. To date, DDGS has been extensively utilised in feeds for ruminants at inclusions of between 25 and 30%. These inclusions have been successfully applied without negatively impacting carcass characteristics or growth performance. However, the application of DDGS to poultry diets has been found to reduce feed intake and limit nutrient utilisation. In general, bioavailability of the nutrients within DDGS is poorly understood. Throughout the UK and most of Europe wheat-based DDGS is the most predominant by-product of bioethanol production. Little information is available on wheat DDGS in the UK and the nutrient variability that exists between batches and between different UK production sites. Compositional variation of dietary components makes it difficult for nutrtionists to formualte balanced diets. Therefore, the aim of this project is to determine the feeding quality of UK produced wheat DDGS when fed to laying hens.

Funding Body

Danisco Animal Nutrition and 91茄子 Adams University

Project staff

Dr Isobel Whiting
Researcher

Dr Vasil Pirgozliev
Director of Study

Publications

Whiting, I.M. Pirgozliev, V., Rose, S.P., Wilson, J., Amerah, A.M., Ivanova, S.G., Staikova, G., Oluwatosin, O.O., and Oso, A.O (2016) Nutrient availability of different batches of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles with and without exogenous enzymes for broiler chickens. Poultry Science, doi: 10.3382/ps/pew262.

Whiting, I.M (2016) Biofuel by-products as poultry feeds - the future. Proceedings of the NZ Poultry Industry Conference, 2016. Vol. 13.

Whiting, I. M., V. Pirgozliev, S. P. Rose, A. M. Mackenzie, and A. M. Amerah. (2015) Metabolizable energy of diets containing wheat DDGS supplemented with graded levels of xylanase when fed to laying hens [Abstract]. Page 59 in Abstracts: 2015 International Poultry Scientific Forum. International Production and Processing Expo, Atlanta, GA.

V. Pirgozliev, I. Whiting, J. Wilson, S.P. Rose, M.W. Mirza, S. Ivanova, D. Kanev (2015) Nutrient availability of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (ddgs) for broilers Zivotnovudni Nauki 52: 17-24.

Whiting, I. M., V. Pirgozliev, S. P. Rose, A. M. Mackenzie, and A. M. Amerah. (2014) Batch variability of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles on amino acid digestibility and nutrient availability when fed to laying hens. British Poultry Abstracts, 10: 28-29.

Whiting, I. (2012), 'Prevalence of Endoparasites in the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus Europaeus) within Regions of the East Midlands', Reinvention: a Journal of Undergraduate Research, British Conference of Undergraduate Research 2012 Special Issue,.