Enhanced distiller's dried grains with solubles (E-DDGS) provides greater energy concentration in swine diets, improving the nutritional value of DDGS for pigs, according to a study at the University of Illinois.
The end result is not only improved feed efficiency, but in many cases, increased growth rates, leading to increased profits.
DDGS has a high fiber content. A process known to separate fiber from DDGS — called the elusieve process — removes about 10% of the material, mostly fiber, yielding E-DDGS with 2.3% less total dietary fiber than conventional DDGS (28.7% vs. 26.4% fiber).
The E-DDGS has higher crude protein (CP) and higher fat concentration (Table 1).
The goal of this experiment was to determine digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in two sources of DDGS, and in E-DDGS produced from each of the DDGS sources.
The trial consisted of 30, 51-lb. growing pigs and 30, 161-lb. finishing pigs placed in metabolism cages and assigned a randomized diet.
The two groups of pigs received five different diets: standard corn and soybean meal and four additional diets formulated by replacing 40% of the base diet with 40% of each source of DDGS and E-DDGS.
Pigs were fed experimental diets for 14 days. Urine and feces were collected during the final five days.
Diets containing E-DDGS produced 6-7% greater DE and ME than those containing DDGS (Table 2). Researchers said the result was expected due to the fiber removal from DDGS, resulting in an ingredient higher in fat and protein content.
About 94% of the DE and ME in the original DDGS was captured in the E-DDGS. The DE and ME values were not different between growing and finishing pigs.
In conclusion, the co-product E-DDGS is nutritionally more appropriate for pigs than DDGS because of the lower fiber concentration and higher energy density.
Researchers: J.A. Soares, H.H. Stein, R. Srinivasan, V. Singh and J.E. Pettigrew, University of Illinois. Contact Pettigrew by phone (217) 244-6927, fax (217) 333-7861 or e-mail jepettig@uiuc.edu.