Comparative feeding value of extruded and nonextruded wheat and corn distillers dried grains with solubles for broilers.

The feeding value of extruded and nonextruded wheat and corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for broilers was evaluated in 2 experiments. In experiment 1, male broilers (n=360) housed in battery cages were fed assay diets that included either 15 or 30% wheat or corn DDGS (extruded or not) in relation to a basal diet from d 21 to 28. Birds were killed on d 28 and ileal digesta was collected to establish the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) coefficients of energy and nutrients for test ingredients using the difference method based on 5 cages of 8 birds per diet. In experiment 2, a 42-d study compared the growth performance of broilers fed phase diets including 0, 5, or 10% wheat or corn DDGS, based on 4 pens of 55 birds per diet×sex combination. Diets within phase were formulated to have a similar content of AME, CP, and digestible lysine. Breast meat weight and yield were determined on d 37 by sampling 5 birds per pen. In experiment 1, at 15% inclusion, AID coefficients of most amino acids were higher for corn DDGS than for wheat DDGS (P<0.05). At 30% inclusion, however, there were fewer differences in AID between corn and wheat DDGS. Twin-screw extrusion increased the AID of AA in both corn and wheat DDGS by 10 to 34% (P<0.05). In experiment 2, there was no adverse effect of including corn or wheat DDGS at up to 10% of the diet on pen average daily weight gain, feed disappearance, feed efficiency, breast meat weight, or yield. In conclusion, extrusion increased the feeding value of DDGS. The AID coefficients for amino acids were similar between corn and wheat DDGS. We also confirmed that either corn or wheat DDGS can be included at up to 10% of wheat-based broiler diets without affecting growth performance or breast meat yield.