Wheat Distillers Research Articles

<i>In situ</i> degradability of soyabean meal treated with <i>Acacia saligna</i> and <i>Atriplex halimus</i> extracts in sheep

1. In situ ruminal degradation characteristics of dry matter and crude protein from dried corn, high-protein corn, and wheat distillers grains Y. H. Lee, F. Ahmadi, D. Y. Choi, W. S. Kwak Journal of Animal Science and Technology CrossRef

Metabolic characteristics of proteins and biomolecular spectroscopic profiles in different batches of feedstock (wheat) and their co-products (wheat distillers dried grains with solubles) from the same bioethanol processing plant

The objectives of this study were (1) to reveal the metabolic characteristics of proteins in different batches of feedstock (wheat) for bioethanol production and their co-products (wheat distillers dried grains with solubles, wDDGS) from the same bioethanol processing plant, and (2) to characterize biomolecular spectral profile associated with nutrient digestion in the rumen and intestine of dairy cattle. The metabolic characteristics of proteins were determined using the DVE/OEB system (where DVE=total truly absorbed protein supply, and OEB=degraded balance of protein) based on chemical profiles and rumen and intestinal digestion data from dairy cattle. The biomolecular spectral characteristics were investigated by using the molecular spectroscopy technique attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT/IR). Multivariate molecular spectral analyses—agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis (AHCA), and principal component analysis (PCA)—were conducted to identify the spectral differences in biomolecular inherent structure among the wheat and wDDGS batches. The results showed that (1) the metabolic characteristics of proteins in the wheat and wDDGS from the same bioethanol processing plant were significantly affected by batch, with total truly absorbed protein supply (DVE value) ranging from 101 to 116g/kg of dry matter (DM) in wheat and from 153 to 182g/kg of DM in wDDGS; (2) the degraded balance of protein (OEB value) in the wDDGS (but not the wheat) from the same bioethanol processing plant was significantly affected by batch, with the OEB value ranging from −19 to −26g/kg of DM in the wheat and from 145 to 181g/kg of DM in the wDDGS; and (3) the biomolecular spectral analyses with AHCA and PCA revealed biomolecular spectral profiles and differences among the wheat and wDDGS samples.

Bed Agglomeration Characteristics in Fluidized-Bed Combustion of Biomass Fuels Using Olivine as Bed Material

The bed agglomeration characteristics during combustion of typical biomass fuels were determined in a bench-scale bubbling fluidized-bed reactor (5 kW) using olivine and quartz sand as bed material. The fuels studied include willow, logging residues, wheat straw, and wheat distiller’s dried grain with solubles (wheat DDGS). Bed material samples and agglomerates were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), for morphology and elemental composition. Furthermore, bed ash particles were separated by sieving from the bed material samples and analyzed for elemental composition by SEM–EDS and for determination of crystalline phases by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Chemical equilibrium calculations were performed to interpret the experimental findings of layer formation and reaction tendencies in both bed materials. Significant difference in the agglomeration tendency between olivine and quartz was found during combustion of willow and logging residues. These fuels resulted in inner layers that were more dependent on the bed material composition, and outer layers that have a composition similar to the fuel ash characteristics. The elemental composition of the inner layer formed on the quartz bed particles was dominated by Si, K, and Ca. In the olivine bed, the inner layer consisted mainly of Mg, Si, and Ca. Chemical equilibrium calculations made for both bed materials showed a low chemical driving force for K to react and be retained by the olivine bed particles, which is in accordance to the experimental findings. For the quartz case, the inner layer was found responsible for the initiation of the agglomeration process. The composition of the fewer and more porous agglomerates found after the experiments in the olivine bed showed neck composition and characteristics similar to the individual bed ash particles found in the bed or outer bed particle coating composition. For DDGS (rich in S, P, K, and Mg) and wheat straw (rich in Si and K), no significant differences in the bed agglomeration tendency between olivine and quartz bed materials were found. The results show that the bed particle layer formation and bed agglomeration process were associated to direct adhesion of bed particles by partly molten fuel ash derived K–Mg phosphates for DDGS and K-silicates for wheat straw.

Fractionation of wheat distillers' dried grains and solubles by particle size and density improves its digestible nutrient content for rainbow trout

Reveco, F. E. and Drew, M. D. 2012. Fractionation of wheat distillers' grains and solubles by particle size and density improves its digestible nutrient content in rainbow trout. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 197–205. The nutritional value of wheat distillers' dried grains and solubles (WDDGS) in aquaculture is poor because of its relatively low crude protein (CP) and high fibre content. In this study WDDGS was fractionated using grinding, sieving and elutriation sequentially. The WDDGS was ground in a hammer mill using a 3-mm screen and sieved using six sieves (20M, 30T, 40T, 50T, 60M and 80M) into seven fractions (>841, 590–840, 426–589, 298–425, 251–297, 178–250 and<177 µm). Elutriation was then performed to further fractionate based on particle shape and density. The higher density sub-fractions from the three smallest particle size fractions were mixed to produce a fractionated WDDGS containing 20.7 MJ kg−1 gross energy (GE), 454.6 g kg−1 CP, 260.4 g kg−1 neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and 93.2 g kg−1 acid detergent fibre (ADF). The digestibility of the unprocessed and fractionated WWDGS products was assessed in rainbow trout. Apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of DM, GE, acid ether extract (AEE), ash and amino acids (AA) did not differ between the unprocessed material and the fractionated WDDGS (P>0.05). However, the ADC of CP was higher for fractionated WDDGS (0.88) than the unprocessed WDDGS (0.85) (P<0.05). This fractionation scheme can be used to improve the nutritional value of WDDGS for rainbow trout.

Combustion and fuel characterisation of wheat distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) and possible combustion applications

The present transition to a sustainable global energy system requires that biomass is increasingly combusted for heat and power production. Agricultural fuels considered include alkali-rich fuels with high phosphorus content. One such fuel is wheat distiller’s dried grain with solubles (wheat DDGS) from wheat-based ethanol production. Further increases in ethanol production may saturate the current market for wheat DDGS as livestock feed, and fuel uses are therefore considered. Fuel properties of wheat DDGS have been determined. The ash content (5.4±1.6%wtd.s.) is similar to many agricultural fuels. In comparison to most other biomass fuels the sulphur content is high (0.538±0.232%wtd.s.), and so are the contents of nitrogen (5.1±0.6%wtd.s.), phosphorus (0.960.±0.073%wtd.s.) and potassium (1.30±0.35%wtd.s.). To determine fuel-specific combustion properties, wheat DDGS and mixes between wheat DDGS and logging residues (LR 60%wtd.s. and DDGS 40%wtd.s.), and wheat straw (wheat straw 50%wtd.s., DDGS 50%wtd.s.) were pelletized and combusted in a bubbling fluidised bed combustor (5kW) and in a pellets burner combustor (20kW). Pure wheat DDGS powder was also combusted in a powder burner (150kW). Wheat DDGS had a high bed agglomeration and slagging tendency compared to other biomass fuels, although these tendencies were significantly lower for the mixture with the Ca-rich LR, probably reflecting the higher first melting temperatures of K–Ca/Mg-phosphates compared to K-phosphates. Combustion and co-combustion of wheat DDGS resulted in relatively large emissions of fine particles (<1μm) for all combustion appliances. For powder combustion PMtot was sixteen times higher than from softwood stem wood. While the Cl concentrations of the fine particles from the the mixture of LR and wheat DDGS in fluidised bed combustion were lower than from combustion of pure LR, the Cl- and P-concentrations were considerably higher from the wheat DDGS mixtures combusted in the other appliances at higher fuel particle temperature. The particles from powder combustion of wheat DDGS contained mainly K, P, Cl, Na and S, and as KPO3 (i.e. the main phase identified with XRD) is known to have a low melting temperature, this suggests that powder combustion of wheat DDGS should be used with caution. The high slagging and bed agglomeration tendency of wheat DDGS, and the high emissions of fine particles rich in K, P and Cl from combustion at high temperature, mean that it is best used mixed with other fuels, preferably with high Ca and Mg contents, and in equipment where fuel particle temperatures during combustion are moderate, i.e. fluidised beds and possibly grate combustors rather than powder combustors.

Effect of wheat distillers' grains with solubles and a feed flavour on performance and carcass traits of growing-finishing pigs fed wheat and canola meal based diets

Forty-eight crossbred pigs were assigned to one of six dietary treatments in a 6 × 2 (treatment × sex) factorial arrangement. Diets were based on wheat and canola meal and were formulated to contain 0%, 4.9%, 9.7%, 14.6% or 19.4% wheat distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) during the growing period and 0%, 4.0%, 8.1%, 12.1% and 16.1% wheat DDGS during the finishing period. The addition of wheat DDGS was made at the expense of both wheat and canola meal. A feed flavour was added to the diet in which wheat DDGS supplied 100% of the supplementary protein. Over the entire experimental period (21.5–112.2 kg), increasing the level of wheat DDGS resulted in a linear decrease in weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Feed intake was linearly reduced by inclusion of wheat DDGS during the growing period (21.5–57.4 kg) but not the finishing period (57.4–112.2 kg). Increasing the level of wheat DDGS in the diet resulted in a linear decline in carcass value index and lean yield while loin fat linearly increased. The addition of a flavour to the diet in which DDGS supplied 100% of the supplementary protein had no effect on performance or carcass traits.

Performance, feeding behaviour and rumen pH profile of beef cattle fed corn silage in combination with barley grain, corn or wheat distillers’ grain or wheat middlings

Holtshausen, L., Beauchemin, K. A., Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K. S., González, L. A., McAllister, T. A. and Gibb, D. J. 2011. Performance, feeding behaviour and rumen pH profile of beef cattle fed corn silage in combination with barley grain, corn or wheat distillers’ grain or wheat middlings. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 703–710. This study compared growth performance, feeding behaviour and ruminal pH profile of growing beef heifers fed a total mixed ration (TMR) containing corn silage and either [400 g kg−1 dry matter (DM)] barley grain (CTL), corn dried distillers’ grain with solubles (CDDGS), wheat dried distillers’ grain with solubles (WDDGS) or wheat middlings (WM). Eighty beef heifers (16 ruminally cannulated; 301±34 kg) were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to eight feedlot pens for a 70-d backgrounding study. Pens were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments and equipped with the GrowSafe feed intake system for determining individual feed intake and monitoring feeding behaviour. Dry matter intake (DMI) was lower (P&lt;0.01) and average daily gain (ADG) tended to be lower for CTL (P=0.06) heifers as compared with heifers on other treatments. Feed conversion efficiency (i.e., gain to feed ratio; P=0.41) and feeding behaviour and ruminal pH profile measurements (P&gt;0.05) did not differ among treatments. This study illustrates that barley grain can be replaced by corn dried distillers’ grain, wheat dried distillers’ grain or wheat middlings in diets fed to growing beef cattle without compromising feed conversion efficiency, adversely affecting feeding behaviour (e.g., decreased meal frequency and duration) or increasing the incidence of ruminal acidosis.

Wheat distillers grains in feedlot cattle diets: Feeding behavior, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood metabolites1,2

A study was conducted to evaluate feed intake, ADG, carcass quality, eating behavior, and blood metabolites in feedlot beef steers fed diets that varied in proportion of wheat dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) replacing barley grain or barley silage. Two hundred crossbred steers (BW = 489 ± 30 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly allotted to 20 pens (5 pens per treatment). Steers were fed 1 of 4 diets: control without DDGS (CON), 25% (25DDGS), 30% (30DDGS), or 35% (35DDGS) wheat DDGS (DM basis). The CON diet consisted of 15% barley silage and 85% barley-based concentrate; the 3 wheat DDGS diets were formulated by substituting 20% barley grain and 5, 10, or 15% silage, respectively, with 25, 30, or 35% wheat DDGS so that the 35DDGS diet contained no silage. The diets were formulated such that wheat DDGS was substituted for both barley grain and barley silage to evaluate whether wheat DDGS can be fed as a source of both energy and fiber in feedlot finishing diets. Dry matter intake of steers fed 25DDGS was greater (P < 0.01), but final BW, ADG, and G:F were not different compared with steers fed CON diet. Carcass characteristics and liver abscess score were not different between CON and 25DDGS. Steers fed 25DDGS had longer eating time (min/d; P < 0.01), greater meal frequency (P < 0.04), but a slower eating rate (P < 0.04). Replacing barley silage with increasing amounts of wheat DDGS (from 25DDGS to 35DDGS) linearly reduced (P < 0.01) DMI. Final BW, ADG, and G:F were not affected by increasing amounts of wheat DDGS. Carcass traits were not different, whereas liver abscess scores linearly (P < 0.01) increased as more barley silage was replaced by wheat DDGS. Eating time (min/d) and duration of each meal linearly (P < 0.02) decreased, whereas eating rate (min/g of DM) linearly (P < 0.01) increased with increasing replacement of barley silage. Blood urea N was doubled (P < 0.01) compared with CON by inclusion of wheat DDGS. Results indicate that wheat DDGS can be used effectively in feedlot diets, decreasing the need for barley grain or silage without negatively affecting growth performance and carcass characteristics. A reduction in the amount of roughage required to maintain growth performance is a potential advantage in feedlot operations because forage is costly and often of limited availability. Thus, DDGS can be a possible alternative as long as they are available and cost effective; however, increased incidence of liver abscess and increased N content of manure need to be considered when greater amounts of wheat DDGS are included in finishing diets.

Erratum: A review of biomass densification systems to develop uniform feedstock commodities for bioenergy application

After online publication of this article on October 6, 2011, the authors have noticed the following reference errors within the paper, which is in this current issue (Biofuels, Bioprod. Bioref. 5:683–707): Page 684: Reference 5 should be replaced with Reference 77, Tumuluru JS, Sokhansanj S, Lim CJ, Bi X, Anthony L, Staffan M, Sowlati T and Ehsan O, Quality of wood pellets produced in British Columbia. App Eng Agr 26:1013–1020 (2010b). Table 1: Reference 145 should be replaced with Reference 149, Shimida Systems [Online]. Available at: http://www.shimada.co.uk/index.php [July 20, 2011]. Table 4: Reference 10 should be Mani S, A system analysis of biomass densification process: PhD thesis submitted to Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (2005). Page 692: Reference 64 refers to Shaw's MS thesis rather than PhD thesis. Page 693: Reference 77 should be replaced with Reference 135, Tumuluru JS, Tabil LG, Opoku A, Mosqueda MR and Fadeyi O, Effect of process variables on the quality characteristics of pelleted wheat distiller's dried grains with soluble (DDGS). Bio Eng 105:466–475 (2010d). Table 6: Reference 27 should be Adapa PK, Tabil LG and Schoenau G, Compression characteristics of non-treated and steam exploded barley, canola, oat, and wheat straw grinds. App Eng Agr 26:617–632 (2010). Page 699: Reference 77 should be replaced with Reference 133, Tumuluru JS, Kuang X, Sokhansanj S, Lim CJ, Bi X and Staffan M, Development of laboratory studies on the off-gassing of wood pellets. Can Bio Eng 52:8.1–8.9 (2010c). Page 699: Reference 133 should be replaced with Reference 5, Tumuluru JS, Wright CT, Kenney KL and Hess JR, A review on biomass densification technologies for energy applications. [Online]. Tech. Report INL/EXT-10-18420, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA (2010). Available at: http://www.inl.gov/bioenergy [June 22, 2011].

Growth response and resistance to Streptococcus iniae of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, fed diets containing different levels of wheat distiller's dried grains with solubles with or without lysine supplementation

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary levels of wheat distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) with or without lysine supplementation on growth, body composition, hematology, immune response, and resistance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, to Streptococcus iniae challenge. Nine isonitrogenous, isocaloric diets were formulated to contain 0 (control), 100, 200, 300 and 400 g/kg wheat DDGS without (W0–W400) and with (WL100–WL400) lysine supplementation to a level equal to that of the control diet as partial replacement of a combination of soybean meal (SBM) and maize meal (MM) on an equal protein basis. Each diet was fed to juvenile Nile tilapia (3.92 ± 0.07 g) in triplicate aquaria twice daily to apparent satiation for 10 weeks. Fish fed W400 had lower (P<0.05) weight gain (WG), feed efficiency ratio (FER), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) compared with those fed the control diet. Supplementation of lysine to the 400 g/kg wheat DDGS diet (WL400) increased (P<0.05) WG, FER, PER to levels similar to those fed control diet. The values of these variables did not differ among fish fed W0–W300 and WL100–WL400. No differences (P>0.05) were observed among whole body moisture, protein and fat of fish receiving various diets. Whole body ash tended to increase with increasing levels of dietary wheat DDGS, but the differences were not always significant. Hematological and immunological parameters, the average number of days to first mortality after S. iniae challenge and cumulative mortality 4 weeks post challenge were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Results of this study suggest that wheat DDGS can be incorporated in Nile tilapia diets at a level of 300 g/kg as a substitute, on an equal protein basis, for a combination of SBM and MM without requiring lysine supplementation. The inclusion level of wheat DDGS can be increased to at least 400 g/kg (highest level evaluated) if lysine was supplemented to a level equal to that of the control diet.

Kinetic study of decomposition of wheat distiller grains and steam gasification of the corresponding pyrolysis char

Thermal characteristics of wheat distiller grains (WDGs) and steam gasification kinetics of the corresponding pyrolysis char were studied by thermogravimetric analysis. The pyrolysis process of WDGs can be divided into three stages including the drying, devolatilization, and carbonation. The heating rate and final temperature are the most important factors influencing the WDGs decomposition. The ultimate mass loss increases with increasing final temperature while the mass loss rate and the characteristic temperature for the maximum reaction rate increase with the increasing heating rate. For the pyrolysis of WDGs, the average activation energy was calculated as 77.45 kJ mol−1 by Coats–Refern method. While for the steam gasification of the pyrolysis char, the shrinking-core model fits the gasification behavior better than the volumetric reaction one and the activation energy, and the pre-exponential factor were calculated to be 199.19 kJ mol−1 and 7.21 × 106 s−1, respectively, with the former model.

Drying Characteristics and Lysine Content of Wheat Distiller's Grain with Solubles under Three Drying Methods

The drying characteristics and lysine content of wheat distiller's grain with solubles were studied under three methods: forced air drying, microwave drying, and microwave–convective drying. For forced air drying, temperature was set at five levels (40, 60, 80, 100, and 120°C), maintaining air velocity and relative humidity at 0.7–0.8 m/s and less than 8%, respectively. Four power levels (40, 60, 80, and 100%) and four combination settings (130°C–30% power, 150°C–30% power, 160°C–30% power, and 190°C–30% power) of a domestic microwave oven were used for microwave- and microwave convection drying. Experimental data were fitted to four common thin-layer drying models, and the Page model was found to best describe the drying behavior of the distiller's grain under the three methods. Lysine content and the color parameters (L, a, and b) were also determined and assessed for linear correlation with temperature and microwave power. Lysine content and L values decreased with increases in drying air temperature. Lighter colored distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) samples tended to have higher lysine content. Microwave-dried samples did not show significant differences in lysine content and in L values across the four power levels.

Effects of protein level and digestibility on the growth and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens1

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary protein level and protein digestibility on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broilers from 1 to 35 d of age. Broiler chickens (n = 320) were fed 4 different ideal protein-balanced, isocaloric diets in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 levels of protein [high protein (HiPro; 20 and 18% or 200 and 180 g/kg) and low protein (LoPro; 18 and 16% or 180 and 160 g/kg) on d 1 to 14 and d 15 to 35, respectively] and 2 levels of protein digestibility [high digestibility (HiDig) and low digestibility (LoDig); approximately 85% and 80% CP digestibility, respectively]. The HiDig diets were formulated using soybean meal and fishmeal, whereas the LoDig diets used wheat distillers dried grains with solubles and meat and bone meal as the primary protein sources. The standardized ileal digestibility (SID) values of the wheat distillers dried grains with solubles and meat and bone meal (56.5 and 72.0% SID for lysine, respectively) were measured before the experiment to improve the accuracy of the diet formulations. During the starter phase, the interaction was significant for ADG; birds fed the LoPro-LoDig diet grew slower than birds fed the other 3 diets (P < 0.05). During the grower phase, the interaction was significant for ADFI; birds fed the LoPro-LoDig diet had the lowest ADFI compared with those fed the other 3 diets. The interaction between protein level and digestibility was significant for the SID of most of the AA and was significantly higher for birds fed the HiPro-HiDig diet compared with those fed the other 3 diets. Total breast meat yield was significantly higher in birds fed the HiPro diets than in those fed the LoPro diets, whereas birds fed the HiDig diets had significantly more abdominal fat than those fed the LoDig diets. The results suggest that low-protein diets can support growth performance equal to high-protein diets when highly digestible ingredients are used. However, maximum breast meat yield requires a high-protein diet and is not affected by ingredient digestibility.

Standardised amino acid digestibility of wheat distillers’ dried grains with solubles in force-fed cockerels

1. In recent years, policies encouraging the production of ethanol from maize or wheat have stimulated an increased production of distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for which the nutritional value for poultry is poorly described, especially in the case of wheat DDGS. 2. DDGS samples (19) were obtained from 7 plants in Europe from June to September 2007. Each sample was analysed for chemical composition and 10 representative samples were measured for amino acid (AA) content and their standardised digestibility (SDD) in caecectomised cockerels. Lightness score (L) of each DDGS was also measured. 3. Results indicated a rather stable crude protein content (327 to 392 g/kg DM) but the AA profile was variable between samples. Lysine (LYS) was the most affected AA with contents ranging between 0·83 and 3·01 g/100 g CP. In addition, only 0·76 of total LYS were free if estimated by the fluoro-dinitro-benzene procedure and 0·85 of total LYS were free if estimated by the furosine procedure. 4. The SDD of LYS was also highly variable (−0·04 to 0·71) with the lowest values observed for DDGS samples with a low LYS content in CP; these latter samples had also a high occurrence of Maillard reactions and low L values (<50). Consequently, both LYS content in CP (r = 0·63) and SDD of LYS (r = 0·64) values were positively related with L. 5. Our data indicate that LYS SDD can be accurately predicted from LYS content in CP according to a quadratic (R 2 = 0·94) or a linear-plateau model (R 2 = 0·90; breakpoint for 1·9 g/100 g lysine in CP and a 0.63 plateau SDD value).

Feeding behavior and ruminal acidosis in beef cattle offered a total mixed ration or dietary components separately1

Eighty continental crossbred beef heifers (414.9 ± 37.9 kg of BW), 16 of which were ruminally cannulated, were used in a 52-d experiment with a generalized randomized block design, to assess if self-selection of dietary ingredients modulates ruminal pH and improves rumen function of feedlot finishing cattle. Treatments were total mixed ration [TMR; 85% barley grain (BG), 10% corn silage (CS), 5% supplement]; or free-choice (self-selection; FC) diets of barley grain and corn silage (BGCS), barley grain and wheat distillers grain (BGDG), or corn silage and wheat distillers grain (CSDG). Heifers were housed in groups of 10 in 8 pens equipped with the GrowSafe System (Airdrie, AB, Canada) enabling feed intake and feeding behavior to be continuously monitored. Two cannulated heifers were randomly assigned to each pen and equipped with indwelling pH probes for continuous measurement of ruminal pH during 4 periods (d 1 to 4, d 7 to 14, d 21 to 28, and d 42 to 49). Rumen fluid samples were collected from cannulated heifers on d 7 and 42 before feed delivery, and on d 4 and 49 at 2 h post-feed delivery for determination of VFA. Heifers fed the TMR had shorter (P = 0.01) and smaller (P = 0.03) meals than those fed the FC diets. Cattle fed BGCS and BGDG increased (P < 0.01) intake of BG over time by up to 80 and 70%, respectively. Increased consumption of BG arose from an increase (P < 0.01) in eating rate over the same (P > 0.10) feeding time, which was accompanied by an increase (P < 0.05) in eating rate but a decrease (P < 0.05) in feeding time of either CS or DG. Even with increased BG consumption, ruminal pH and VFA profiles were not different (P > 0.10) among FC diets or compared with the TMR. Cattle fed FC CSDG consumed DG at 60% of dietary DM over the trial, resulting in greater (P < 0.05) mean ruminal pH and acetate-to-propionate ratio and less (P < 0.05) area under the curve than those given the other FC diets or the TMR. Finishing feedlot cattle fed FC diets containing BG self-regulate intake of diets that have a similar composition, intake level, and ruminal fermentation profile to those fed a TMR.

The effect of feeding wheat distillers dried grain with solubles on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weaned pigs

The effects of substituting soybean meal with wheat distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) as an energy and amino acid source on growth performance and dietary nutrient digestibility were evaluated in 240 weaned pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of 6.2 ± 1.2 kg. Five pelleted wheat-based diets containing 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 g wheat DDGS/kg were formulated to contain 10.0 MJ/kg net energy (NE) and 1.15 g standardised ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys)/MJ NE and were fed for 4 wk. For d 0–28, increasing dietary inclusion of wheat DDGS quadratically reduced BW gain (P<0.001) mainly due to a quadratically reduced (P<0.001) feed intake but also a reduced (P<0.001) feed efficiency. At d 28, pigs fed 50, 100, 150 and 200 g wheat DDGS/kg were 0.1, 0.1, 0.4 and 5.5 kg lighter (P<0.001) than pigs fed 0 g wheat DDGS/kg. In conclusion, weaned pigs fed diets formulated to equal NE and SID amino acids can be fed up to 100 g wheat DDGS/kg without reducing final body weight (BW) and up to 150 g wheat DDGS/kg with limited reductions in growth performance. Despite similar DE content among diets, inclusion of 200 g wheat DDGS/kg of drastically reduced growth performance of weaned pigs.

Composition and amino acids ileal digestibility of wheat distillers dried grains and solubles in pigs: Sources of variability

In recent years, policies encouraging the production of ethanol from corn or wheat have stimulated an increased production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) whose nutritional value for pigs is little described. Seventeen wheat DDGS samples were obtained from 7 different plants in Europe from July to September 2007. Each sample was analyzed and 10 representative samples were measured for amino acids (AA) content and their standardized ileal digestibility (SID) in pigs. Lightness score (L) of each DDGS was also measured. Our results indicate a rather stable crude protein content (32.6 to 38.9% DM basis; average: 36.1% DM basis) whereas lysine was the most affected AA with contents ranging between 0.82 and 3.00% of crude protein (CP; N*6.25). In addition, lysine SID was also variable (9 to 82%) with the lowest values observed in DDGS with low lysine level in CP. In fact, samples with low lysine content in CP and low SID of lysine had low lightness values (L < 50) and a subsequent high occurrence of Maillard reactions. Consequently, both lysine content (R = 0.63) and lysine SID ( R = 0.68) values were positively correlated with lightness and DDGS samples that were lighter in colour had higher total and digestible AA levels. Our data indicate that lysine SID can be accurately predicted from lysine content in CP with a quadratic model (R² = 0.87) or a linear-plateau model (R² = 0.80 with a breakpoint for lysine content in CP of 1.9% and SID at plateau of 68%). This also suggests that wheat DDGS with lysine content in CP lower than 1.9% should be avoided in pig diets.

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of wheat distiller's dried grain with solubles

A wide variety of carbohydrates and starch-containing materials have been used for production of ethanol by the fermentation process. The alcohol from grain such as corn, wheat, barley, and sweet sorgum produced dried distillate grain with solubles (DDGS) and carbon dioxide as by-products. An attempt has been made to extract fatty oil from wheat DDGS using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). Wheat DDGS contain 65–70% of omega-3-fatty acid and omega-6-fatty acid. The fatty oil was also extracted from wheat DDGS by the Soxhlet method using hexane. The chemical compositions of fatty oils were determined by carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur analyser, gas chromatography–flame ionization detector and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. SC-CO2 is a suitable process for extraction of fatty oils with an improved percentage of essential fatty acids such as omega-3-fatty acid and omega-6-fatty acid.

Ileal digestibility of amino acids in wheat distillers dried grains with solubles for pigs

In recent years, policies encouraging the production of ethanol from cereals have resulted in increased production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Unlike corn, DDGS nutritional value and its variability for pigs is poorly described for wheat DDGS. Seventeen wheat DDGS samples were obtained from seven plants in Europe. Each sample was analysed for chemical composition and 10 representative samples were analysed for amino acids (AA) concentration and their standardized ileal digestibility (SID) in pigs. Luminance ( L ) of the DDGS was also measured. Results indicate a rather stable crude protein (CP; N×6.25) concentration (326–389 g/kg DM; average: 361 g/kg DM) but the AA profile was variable among samples. Lysine (lys) concentration was the most variable with values ranging between 0.83 and 3.01 g/100 g CP. Only 76% of total lys was available if measured by the fluoro dinitro benzene procedure and 85% was available when measured by the furosine procedure. The SID of lys was also highly variable (0.09–0.83) with the lowest values observed for the three samples that had a low lys concentration in CP. These latter samples had also a high occurrence of Maillard reaction products and low L values (<50). Consequently, both lys:CP ( r = 0.63) and SID of lys ( r = 0.68) were positively related with L. The data indicate that lys SID can be accurately predicted from lys:CP according to a quadratic ( R 2 = 0.86) or a linear-plateau model ( R 2 = 0.80; breakpoint for 1.9 g lys/100 g CP and a 0.68 plateau SID value). The SID of other AA was less variable than that observed for lys. The results of the current trial indicate that variability in lys concentration and its SID represent a major concern when wheat DDGS are fed to pigs. The combination of low lys content in CP and low SID of lys in dark DDGS suggests not including such type of ingredient in feeds for pigs.

Effect of the duration of prefeeding on amino acid digestibility of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles in broiler chicken

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the duration of prefeeding on prececal amino acid (AA) digestibility of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in broilers. The experimental diets with DDGS at levels of 0, 10, and 20% were offered ad libitum for 7, 5, and 3 d, starting on 14, 16, and 18 d of age. Titanium dioxide was used as an indigestible marker. Six pens of 10 birds were allocated to each treatment. Digesta was sampled on a pen basis from the distal two-thirds of the intestine section between Meckel's diverticulum and 2 cm anterior to the ileo-ceca-colonic junction. Ingested and digested amounts of AA were determined for each pen. Digestibility of AA in the diets was not significantly affected by the duration of prefeeding but was significantly reduced by inclusion of DDGS. Digestibility of AA in DDGS was determined by using a linear regression approach. The digestibility of AA in DDGS ranged from 76% (Arg, 5 d of feeding) to 33% (Asp, 3 d of feeding). There was no significant effect of prefeeding time on AA digestibility of DDGS. Lysine digestibility of DDGS was 72%. The mean digestibility of the AA Arg, Cys, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, and Val of DDGS across the 3 prefeeding times was 66%. This study gave evidence that 3 d of prefeeding a diet is sufficient in studying prececal AA digestibility in broilers when low-digestible feeds are used.