Evaluation of the use of feeding distillers dried grains with solubles in combination with canola meal on broiler performance and carcass characteristics

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is an acceptable feed ingredient used as an alternative to corn or soybean meal in poultry diets. However, the unbalanced or low digestibility of amino acids in DDGS has been an issue and may be preventing its use at high levels. Canola meal (CM) contains high protein with well-balanced amino acids and can commonly be used as an economical alternative ingredient to soybean meal in poultry diets. Thus, the use of DDGS and CM together may improve the amino acid balance, performance, and carcass characteristics of broilers. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the use of DDGS in combination with CM in broiler diets. In a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement, 1,920 one-day-old male Heritage broilers were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments: 1) control (0% DDGS + 0% CM), 2) 6% DDGS + 0% CM, 3) 12% DDGS + 0% CM, 4) 0% DDGS + 7.5% CM, 5) 6% DDGS + 7.5% CM, and 6) 12% DDGS + 7.5% CM. Chicks (8 replicate pens, each with 40 chicks) were fed experimental diets from 0 to 48 d of age. The diets were formulated to be isocaloric and to meet the digestible amino acid requirements of the birds. Performance was evaluated at 14, 21, 35, and 48 d of age, and carcass characteristics were measured at 49 d of age. Overall (0 to 48 d of age), the inclusion of up to 12% DDGS in the diet did not significantly affect BW gain or feed intake, but it did negatively affect FE. The inclusion of 7.5% CM in the control diet did not significantly affect broiler performance; however, the diets containing 7.5% CM with 6 or 12% DDGS adversely affected performance as compared with the control diet. The inclusion of 7.5% CM in the diet of broilers negatively affected the carcass yield but positively affected the leg yield, regardless of the inclusion of DDGS. The inclusion of 12% DDGS in the diet of broilers increased the wing yield as compared with the nonsupplemented control diet. No interaction of DDGS and CM was observed in the carcass parameters measured, except for leg and wing yields. Thus, care should be taken when DDGS and CM are fed because negative effects on performance and carcass yield may be observed.