Chemical and nutritional characteristics of different types of DDGS for ruminants

Abstract

In this study, different types of cereal grains (maize, wheat, triticale), and their respective distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS: DDGSM, DDGSW, DDGST) were used. Their effects on parameters expressing nutritional value for ruminants were assessed. The chemical composition of the DDGS was significantly differed (P<0.01), similarly as that of the cereal grains. The DDGS from maize was the highest in fat (103.5 gkg-1 DM) but the lowest in crude protein (CP) (291.9 gkg-1 DM) and ADF (159.9 gkg-1 DM). All DDGS types had similar energy values (ME approx. 12.5 MJ kg-1 DM, NEL approx. 7.5 MJ kg-1 DM and NEV approx. 7.6 MJ kg-1 DM). The DDGS were three times higher in PDIN values than the original grains (P<0.01). DDGSM had lower in situ effective CP degradability (46.5%) than DDGSW (58.5%) and DDGST (76.8%), but the highest and most stable intestinal digestibility (ID) of rumen undegraded CP (94.3%). The most variable intestinal digestibility was found in DDGSW samples (79.6%-92.2%). The acid detergent insoluble CP (ADICP) content (% from total CP) was significantly higher in wheat and triticale DDGS than in the original grains. There were significant plant effects on fat, ME, NEV, ADICP (P<0.01), ADF, and NADIP (P<0.05). We can conclude that all types of DDGS are a good source of CP and energy for ruminants.