Nutritional Characterization of Wheat Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles in Grower-Finisher Pig

Co-product feedstuffs, if properly characterized nutritionally, are an important component to maintain the feed competitiveness of the pork industry. Hence, nutrient digestibility of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was measured using grower-finisher pigs. In Exp. 1, two methods were compared. Energy digestibility of wheat DDGS was lower when determined by difference from an N-free diet than a wheat diet, a difference explained by increased fermentation indicated by more volatile fatty acids (VFA) in feces. Standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of lysine did not differ between the methods. In Exp 2, four DDGS samples were evaluated against wheat. The nutrient digestibility was lower for DDGS than wheat. The digestible energy content was higher in corn DDGS than wheat DDGS or triticale DDGS but total feces VFA did not differ. The SID of lysine differed among DDGS. In conclusion, nutrient digestibility of DDGS differs in grower-finisher pigs depending on source and type.