Use of Dried Distillers` Grains with Solubles in Growing-finishing Diets of Turkey Hens

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted with Large White female turkeys to evaluate the effect of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) derived from ethanol production on growth performance from about 8 to 15 wk of age. Experiment 1 consisted of inclusion levels of 0, 9, 18 or 27% DDGS to a corn-soybean meal based diet and the treatment diets were formulated with a metabolizable energy value of 2870 kcal/kg for DDGS and on a digestible amino acid basis. The grower diet was fed from 56 to 77 d of age and the finisher diet was fed from 77 to 105 d of age. Body weight was linearly decreased at 105 d as % DDGS increased in the diet. Feed conversion was increased at p = 0.100 from 77 to 105 d of age as DDG S inclusion level increased. The incidence of pendulous crops increased when high levels of DDGS were fed. In Experiment 2, dietary treatments consisted of 0, 7, or 10% DDGS in the grower period. Half of the birds fed 10% DDGS in the grower period were fed 7% DDGS in the finisher period. The mash diets were formulated with a metabolizable energy value of 2805 kcal/kg for DDGS and on a total amino acid basis. There were no significant effects on body weight or feed conversion in Experiment 2. Results indicate that ethanol-derived DDGS can be effectively included at 10% in growing/finishing diets for turkey hens if proper formulation matrix values for all nutrients are used.