Released: November 02, 2006

K-State Studies Show Distillers Grains Have Variable Results on Hog Growth

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Feeding dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) to nursery and grow-finish hogs had variable effects on growth performance, according to four Kansas State University studies.

DDGS are a byproduct of ethanol manufacturing and their availability for use in swine diets has increased in recent years because of surges in ethanol production, said Joel DeRouchey, K-State Research and Extension livestock production specialist.

In the study conducted on grow-finish hogs, there were three individual experiments, DeRouchey said. Experiment one consisted of 1,050 pigs with an average beginning weight of 104.9 pounds and lasted 28 days. The pigs were fed diets either 0 or 15 percent DDGS and 0, 3, or 6 percent added fat.

In the second experiment, 1,038 pigs with an average weight of 102.1 pounds were divided into groups and fed diets with either 0, 10, 20, or 30 percent DDGS for 56 days.

Experiment three lasted 21 days and used a total of 120 grower pigs with an average initial weight of 48.7 pounds. The pigs were randomly put into different pens, each containing four feeders to determine if pigs would selectively prefer to consume diets with 0, 10, 20 and 30 percent DDGS.

The first experiment showed no improvement in average daily gain (ADG) or the feed to gain ratio (F/G) as added fat was increased regardless if DDGS were included in the diet. There was also no difference in growth performance between pigs fed 0 or 15 percent DDGS.

In study two there was an overall decrease in ADG and average daily feed intake (ADFI) as the percent of DDGS increased in the diets. This reduction was due to depressed feed intake and daily gain for pig’s fed more than 10 percent DDGS.

In study three pigs had depressed feed intake at any level DDGS in the diet, therefore indicating that if given a choice, the pigs would prefer to consume feed without DDGS.

These results suggest that DDGS from the plants evaluated in this study can be included in the diet of commercial and finishing pigs at 10-15 percent without decreasing performance, DeRouchey said.

A 22-day study conducted on nursery pigs evaluating DDGS from a different ethanol manufacturing facility from that in the grow-finish studies. A total of 482 pigs with an average initial weight of 21.9 pounds were randomly allotted to one of two dietary treatments. The corn-soybean meal based diets contained either 0 or 10 percent DDGS.

Results from the nursery pig experiment showed that pigs fed 10 percent DDGS were on average 1.5 pounds lighter at the end of the 22 day period. When evaluating economics of DDGS use by margin over feed, pigs fed DDGS were approximately $0.54 less profitable, DeRouchey said. K-State continues to conduct research to determine the reasons for the variability in response in feeding DDGS and why pigs prefer to consume a diet without DDGS.

These studies are part of a group of recently conducted experiments that will be presented at the K-State Swine Industry Day on Nov. 16 at the K-State Alumni Center.

Early registration fees are $15 per person and due by Nov. 10. Registration at the door will be accepted at $25. There is no charge for students who pre-register. Forms can be found at www.asi.ksu.edu. Click on “Swine Day,” located under the Upcoming Events section.

More information is available by calling Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Leah Bond
lbond@ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News