Evaluation of brewer's dried grains in the diets of laying hens

Abstract

Diets containing 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60% brewer's dried grains (BDG) were supplied ad libitum to twenty Rhode Island Red laying hens in the seventh month of lay. The experiment lasted 75 days, after which pure brewer's dried grains (90% BDG) were offered to the same hens for two weeks. Diets with up to 45% BDG were isoproteic, but diets with a higher content had a higher level of protein. On a dry-matter basis, the BDG contained 2.27 kcal ME/g and nitrogen digestibility was 75.4%. Diets containing 45% or more BDG showed a significant decrease ( p<0.05) in metabolizable-energy content. No significant differences were observed in either nitrogen digestibility or nitrogen balance. Brewer's dried grains must be considered as a protein supplement. Some productive characteristics (food intake, egg production, feed efficiency, egg weight, egg quality and body-weight gain) were also studied. Diets containing 15 and 30% BDG appeared to be adequate for laying hens; 45% BDG was also acceptable, although the losses of body weight and shell quality suggested that this level should not be used without further research. At 60%, BDG caused a significant decrease in most of the characteristics studied. The use of 90% BDG caused a reduction in food intake, enormous body weight losses and, in the second week of the experimental period, an inhibition of the lay.