Improved Milk Production when DDGS (Dried Distiller’s Grains With Solubles)is Used to Substitute or SupplementConcentrate for Dairy Cattle in Indonesia

Abstract

Dried Distiller’s Grains With Solubles (DDGS), a co-product of ethanol production from corn, contains high level of energy (TDN 82%), protein (27%) and phosphorus (0.86%) which are important for animal feeding. Indonesian dairy production, especially at cooperative level, suffers from low productivity due to insufficient of nutrient intake. Two feeding experiments were performed at dairy farms, in two locations in Java, to evaluate DDGS as a supplement and substitute dairy concentrate to improve milk production. Twenty dairy cows were used in each location owned by farmers and divided randomly into two comparable groups side by side and one group was fed DDGS while the other group was control diet without DDGS. The first feeding trial was performed in which 1 kg DDGS was given as a substitute of the existing concentrate while second feeding trial, 1 kg DDGS was given as a supplement on top the concentrate. Milk production was measured daily in 3 months trial and milk quality was measured before and after the feeding DDGS. Digestibility trial for dry matter, energy, and protein was conducted using AIA as insoluble marker. The results from the first trial show that feeding DDGS as substitute of concentrate increased milk production from 8.9 to 9.8 l/day compare to control diet decreased from 8.6 to 8.2 l/day. In second feeding trial where DDGS was fed 1 kg on top of concentrate resulted in increased milk production from 9.5 to 11.6 l/day while the control diet decreased from 9.0 to 8.6 l/day. There was no much different on milk qualities in both trials. Digestibility measurement indicated that feeding DDGS improved dry matter and energy digestibilities at around 3-4% and 10% for protein digestibility. Considering cost of DDGS and milk price, DDGS substitution and supplementation to concentrate feed provide economic benefit to dairy farmers.