The effects of applying ME values for high or low-oil corn distillers dried grains with solubles originating from prediction equations on the reproductive performance, colostrum and blood composition as well as diet digestibility for sows in late gestation

This experiment was conducted to apply metabolizable energy (ME) values for high or low-oil corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) originating from prediction equations on the reproductive performance, colostrum and blood composition as well as diet digestibility of sows in late gestation. On d 85 of gestation, 84 sows (Landrace x Yorkshire with an average parity of 3.91) were allotted to 1 of 7 treatments in a 2 x 3 factorial with a positive control with 12 sows per treatment. Sows were fed corn-soybean meal-based diets supplemented with either a high-oil or de-oiled corn DDGS at 1 of 3 inclusion rates (15, 30, or 45%). The control diet was corn-soybean meal-based. The experimental diets were formulated using ME values obtained from prediction equations for corn DDGS and NRC (2012) for other ingredients. There were no differences in the reproductive performance of sows fed these diets. The concentrations of protein in colostrum and serum of sows fed the diets containing de-oiled corn DDGS were lower compared with sows fed high-oil corn DDGS (P < 0.05). The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM) and gross energy (GE) decreased as the inclusion rates of corn DDGS in the diet increased (P < 0.05), while the DE in these diets did not differ. Both the ATTD of crude protein (CP) and digestible CP for sows fed the diets containing de-oiled corn DDGS were lower compared with sows fed high-oil corn DDGS (P < 0.05). The ATTD of ether extracts for sows fed the diets containing de-oiled corn DDGS was higher compared with sows fed diets containing high-oil corn DDGS (P < 0.05) and the ATTD of oil increased linearly as the inclusion rates of corn DDGS increased (P < 0.001). In conclusion, prediction equations for ME for high-oil and de-oiled corn DDGS can be used to formulate diets for sows in late gestation without any negative effects on reproductive performance.