Evaluation of high protein distillers' dried grains as a feed ingredient for broiler chickens

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the feeding value of high-protein corn distillers' dried grains (HP-cDDG), from a plant using a front-end fractionation process, on broiler performance in batteries (0 to 20 d of age: exp. 1) and floor pens (0 to 33 d of age: exp. 2). In exp. 1, 1-d-old male broiler chicks were placed in batteries in an environmentally controlled room. Six experimental diets were formulated to contain 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, or 16% HP-cDDG and to be isocaloric and isonitrogeneous. The mash diets were fed to eight replicates of six chicks per replicate from 0 to 20 d of age. Overall (0 to 20 d of age) the inclusion of 6% HP-cDDG or greater in the diets negatively impacted body weight (BW) gain and feed conversion ratio as compared with the control or the 3% HP-cDDG diet. The negative effect was likely due to a marginal lysine deficiency in the diets as the level of HP-cDDG increased. In exp. 2, 1-d-old male broiler chicks were housed in floor pens equipped with hanging tube feeders, a nipple watering system and pine wood shavings in an environmentally controlled room. Six experimental diets were formulated to contain 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, or 16% HP-cDDG and to be isocaloric. The crumble (0 to 15 d of age) and pellet diets (16 to 33 d of age) were fed to eight replications per treatment containing 40 chicks per replication. There was no effect of up to 16% HP-cDDG inclusion on broiler performance during the starter period (0 to 15 d of age). However, any inclusion of HP-cDDG in the diets during the grower period (16 to 33 d of age) significantly decreased BW gain as compared with the control diet. Also, the inclusion of 9% HP-cDDG or greater to the diets negatively impacted feed conversion ratio. The reason for the depression in performance was also likely due to a lysine deficiency. In conclusion, HP-cDDG could be an acceptable feed ingredient for broilers, but special attention must be paid to the amino acid levels (especially lysine) in order to prevent deficiencies.