Effect of Corn Distiller`s Dried Grains with Solubles at Various Levels on Performance of Laying Hens and Egg Yolk Color

Abstract

Distiller's dried grains with solubles produced from corn as a co-product from ethanol production was fed at 0, 5, 10, or 15% of a corn-soybean meal diet to laying hens to determine if egg production parameters or yolk color would be affected. In experiment 1, diets were fed from 48 to 56 wk of age and DDGS had a goldenrod color. Egg production, weight, mass, specific gravity and yolk color were determined biweekly. Brown colored DDGS was included in diets fed from 58 to 67 wk of age. Egg production parameters and yolk color were measured tri-weekly. Egg production parameters were not different at most ages. However, there were occasional treatment effects. As DDGS increased, there were linear decreases in egg production (52-53 wk of age), egg weight (63 wk of age), egg mass (51 and 53 wk of age), and specific gravity (51 wk of age). Yolk color was increased linearly (p<0.01) as DDGS was increased in the diet throughout experiment 1. In experiment 2, yolk redness (a*) was increased linearly (p<0.001) by increasing levels of DDGS at all ages sampled. The results show that egg yolk is visually changed within one month when 10% or higher of a lightly colored DDGS is fed and by two months with 5% DDGS. In general, corn DDGS up to 15% of the diet did not affect egg production. However, variable results of experiment 1 suggest that a lower level of DDGS should be fed when the feedstuff is introduced in the diet.