Effect of inclusion of increasing amounts of DDGS on the dietary AMEn and fat digestibility in laying hens

Because of its high protein content, ‘dried distillers grains with solubles’ (DDGS) is a potential alternative for the traditional protein sources in livestock feeds, e.g. soybean meal. In Europe, mainly wheat based DDGS is produced. In order to determine the maximum inclusion level of wheat based DDGS in layers diets, a multi-level experiment was designed during which the effect on metabolizable energy (AMEn) and fat digestibility was studied. A wheat/corn/triticale (70/20/10) based DDGS was introduced in a basal laying hen diet at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24%, respectively. Chromic oxide was used as inert marker. Each diet was fed to 9 individually housed laying hens. After 7 days of adaptation, the 4 day balance trial was executed. Through analysis of nutrients and chromic oxide in diets and feces, the digestibility of the diets and DDGS was determined. Dietary AMEn amounted to 2860, 2947, 2885, 2886, 2803 kcal/kg fresh weight (FW) at an inclusion of 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24% DDGS, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase of AMEn at an inclusion level of 6% DDGS. The dietary fat digestibility ascended significantly with increasing inclusion level and amounted to 72, 78, 76, 78 and 80%, respectively.