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Pork Board Sponsors DDG Symposium

The National Pork Board (NPB) recently convened a symposium to educate swine producers about using Distillers Dried Grains (DDGs), a by-product of ethanol production, in swine diets.

Nutrient content variability is a big problem when using Distillers Dried Grains (DDGs) in swine rations. Recent samples collected by Hans Stein, a swine nutritionist at the University of Illinois, averaged 27% protein compared to 9% for corn and 44% for soybean meal. However, the protein content ranged from 24% to 30% and the lysine content was even more variable at 0.54% to 0.99%. This means the DDGs would have to be analyzed prior to formulating the ration.

Research conducted by Jerry Shurson, University of Minnesota swine nutritionist, fed sows rations containing up to 50% DDGs during gestation and 20% in lactation without any measurable decline in performance. Follow-up studies have actually fed lactating sows diets containing as much as 30% DDGs with no difference in feed intake, litter size at weaning, sow weight gain, or milk composition.

DDGs can also be fed to nursery pigs in amounts up to approximately 25% of the ration without ill effects according to research conducted by Minnesota swine nutritionist Mark Whitney. He fed weaned pigs starting at 15 pounds and going up to 25 pounds diets ranging from zero percent to 25% DDGs with no decrease in growth rate or feed conversion. Smaller and/or younger pigs may be a little slower to acclimate to the DDGs, but Whitney believes nursery pigs can be fed diets containing at least 10% to 15% DDGs routinely.

During the finisher phase, however, reductions in average daily gain and increased variability in growth rates were observed in pigs fed rations containing 20% and 30% DDGs according to research conducted by Joel DeRouchey, a Kansas State University swine nutritionist. Other studies have shown that grower pigs can be acclimated over time to consume diets containing up to 30% of the ration.

Source:
Successful Farming Magazine