Evaluation of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) as a protein source for broilers

Male broiler chicks (n=120) were fed diets containing 0, 5, 10 or 15% dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) from the 12th day up to the end of fattening (day 35). During this period feed intake, weight gain and excreta quality (pH, DM) were tested. A digestibility trial was carried out on four birds from each group on the last five days of the experiment to determine the digestibility of organic matter and CP of the different diets. The protein digestibility was evaluated using three different methods; uric acid correction, alpha-amino-N and amino acid-N. There were no significant effects of increased DDGS levels on feed intake, weight gain, excreta quality or digestibility of CP and organic matter. However, feed conversion showed a tendency to decline at the highest DDGS level (15%). Digestibility of DDGS protein was estimated to be 77%. There was no significant difference between uric acid and alpha-amino-N method, but both methods had a significantly lower CP digestibility than amino acid-N. The present results indicate that DDGS can be used as a protein source in diets for fattening broilers up to 10-15%.