Effect of feeding dried distillers' grains with solubles to broiler chickens from day 0 to 21

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of inclusion rates of corn dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) on broiler chicken diets from d 0 to 21, and its effects on growth performance, intestinal morphology, blood metabolites, carcass and cut yields, and meat quality. A total of 980 one-day-old male broiler chickens were assigned to 7 diets (0, 10, 40, 70, 100, 130, and 160 g DDGS/kg) with 7 pens per treatment and 20 broiler chickens per pen in a completely randomized design. Data were analyzed by orthogonal polynomials, and the regression analysis was performed when a linear or quadratic effect was statistically significant; significance was considered at a level of 5%. Experimental diets with DDGS were included from d 0 to 21, and in the periods from d 21 to 33 and 33 to 42, common diets without DDGS were provided. Inclusion of DDGS in the broiler chicken diets did not affect the weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass, and cut yields. Feed intake was not altered from d 0 to 21, however, it had a quadratic effect from d 0 to 42 (P = 0.013). There was a linear increase (P < 0.001) in the relative weight of large intestine at d 21. Jejunal villi height was quadratically affected (P < 0.001), and the lowest villus height was observed at 91.54 g DDGS/kg. There was a linear reduction in jejunal crypt depth (P < 0.001) and a quadratic effect on villus: crypt ratio (P < 0.001) where the lowest value was estimated at 46 g DDGS/kg and 6.89 for villus: crypt ratio. There was a quadratic effect for breast meat pH 15 min postmortem (P = 0.017) and the lowest value was estimated at the inclusion of 79.25 g DDGS/kg and the pH 6.47. The DDGS can be included in broiler chicken diets up to 160 g DDGS/kg from d 0 to 21 without affecting growth performance, carcass and cuts yield, and meat quality of broiler chickens up to d 42.