PUBLISHED BY SOYBEAN GROWERS FOR THE FEED INDUSTRYJune 2009

High-protein Distillers Dried Grains Replacement
Two experiments were conducted with a co-product of corn endosperm fermentation. The first experiment determined nutrient digestibility of high-protein corn distillers dried grains (HP-DDG; 54% CP) after feeding semi purified diets from 15 to 22 d of age. The AMEn of HP-DDG was 2,526 kcal/kg, whereas standardized ileal lysine, methionine and threonine digestibilities were 73.0, 84.9, and 73.0%, respectively. In a second experiment, an industry control diet regimen was compared with that of either an approximate 25 or 50% replacement for the level of 48% CP soybean meal (SBM) inclusion in the diet utilizing the amino acid digestibility and AMEn determined from the first experiment. From 0 to 14, 14 to 28, and 28 to 42 d of age, the HP-DDG in the 50% SBM replacement diet was added at 25, 23.5, and 21% of the diet, respectively. To meet digestible amino acid needs in the diet containing 50% SBM replacement it was necessary to increase the CP in the diet. Thus, the HP-DDG contained 3.2, 3.6, and 4.4% units more CP than the control diet regimen from 1 to 14, 14 to 28, and 28 to 42 d of age, respectively. Results indicated that dietary replacement of up to 50% of SBM with HP-DDG had no effect on bird performance at 14 or 42 d of age or breast fillet yield at 42 d of age; however, the addition of HP-DDG decreased body weight gains and increased the feed:gain ratio from 14 to 28 d of age. Birds consuming a diet with 50% replacement of SBM with HP-DDG consumed 17.1% more N compared with those consuming control diets. This additional N and fiber that was consumed resulted in birds being fed the 50% replacement for SBM diet excreting 21.9 and 31.8% more manure DM and N, respectively. Due in large part to the amino acid profile and lower digestibility of HP-DDG, the research group concluded that the use of this HP-DDG protein ingredient as a proportion of the diet is feasible, but results in more manure and manure N from broilers.

Applegate, T.J., and co-workers. 2009. The nutritional value of high-protein corn distillers dried grains for broiler chickens and its effect on nutrient excretion. Poultry Sci. 88(2):354-359.

Feeding a Low Nutrient Excretion Diet to Swine
Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding a corn- and soybean meal-based diet (control) or a low nutrient excretion (LNE) diet, formulated with reduced dietary crude protein and additional synthetic amino acids, low phytic acid corn, and phytase, on pig growth performance during the grower (BW=32 to 77 kg) and finisher (BW=78 to 126 kg) periods and on carcass and bone characteristics at slaughter. Pigs were blocked by sex and body weight and randomly allotted to a control or LNE diet. Individual BW and pen feed disappearance were recorded weekly in the nursery period and every 2 weeks in the grower-finisher period. Pigs were scanned ultrasonically at day 34 of the nursery period and week 8 and 16 of the grower-finisher period to determine back fat depths and LM area. Ten pigs per treatment of each sex were slaughtered to determine carcass characteristics. Overall growth performance was not different during each experiment. However, nursery G:F (Exp. 1), grower ADG (Exp. 1 and 2), and grower G:F (Exp. 2) were reduced (P<0.05) when the LNE diets were fed. Diet had no effect on 10th-rib carcass data in either experiment. Metatarsal bone ash percentage was reduced (P<0.05) when the LNE diets were consumed in both experiments. Feeding LNE diets resulted in the maintenance of overall growth performance, bone variables, and carcass characteristics. The researchers concluded that further refinements are still required in the nursery and grower phases of pig production to optimize LNE diet use by the swine industry.

Hinson, R.B. , and co-workers. 2009. Effect of feeding reduced crude protein and phosphorus diets on weaning-finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and bone characteristics. J. Animal Sci. 87(4): 1502-1517.

Results of Glycerin Feeding Studies
Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture have investigated the feeding value of coproducts from biodiesel production. Scientists at Iowa State and Mississippi State conducted studies to evaluate crude glycerin as a livestock feed ingredient. Their studies found:

• In swine diets, crude glycerin contained apparent metabolizable energy (AME) levels of 3,207 calories per kilogram (kcal/kg). Pigs fed diets containing 5 or 10% crude glycerin had no effect on weight gain, carcass composition or meat quality. Crude glycerin was essentially equal to corn as an energy source.
• Crude glycerin had an AME value of 3,805 kcal/kg in layer diets. Feeding four levels of crude glycerin to layers produced no significant differences in feed consumption, egg production, egg weight or egg mass. Their conclusion was that crude glycerin was well utilized for egg production by hens.
• Feeding broilers 6% glycerin produced AME values ranging from 3,331 to 3,621 kcal/kg indicating that broiler age may affect energy values.
• The researchers indicated that crude glycerol contains small amounts of methanol and salt, which could potentially limit its use as a feed supplement. They suggested that additional studies are needed to assess how much methanol could be ingested safely.

The researchers concluded from their studies that crude glycerin is an excellent source of energy in swine and poultry rations and can be used without harming animal performance, carcass composition or meat quality.

Flores, Alfredo and Ann Perry. 2009. Biodiesel with benefits: Fuel for cars and leftovers for livestock. Agricultural Research 57(4): 20-21.

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