Distillers grain in swine diets    

[May 11, 2007]  URBANA -- A report providing guidelines for feeding distillers dried grains with solubles to swine is now available at local University of Illinois Extension offices. "Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in diets fed to swine" was prepared by U of I Extension swine specialist Hans H. Stein.

"DDGS is produced from the fuel ethanol industry and is available for inclusion in diets fed to swine," he explained. "During recent years, several research projections have been completed to investigate the feeding value of DDGS."

Stein's report summarizes those findings and includes tables to help producers make decisions in their own enterprises. He also includes recommendations.

"Because there is some variability among sources of DDGS, it is recommended that producers examine concentrations of nutrients in the product before buying DDGS," he said. "To confirm that the product is a true DDGS product that has not been diluted with soy hulls or reduced in fat concentration, it is recommended that guarantees for nutrient concentrations be obtained from the supplier."

The crude protein concentration should be at least 27 percent, and total fat and total phosphorus should be at least 9 and 0.55 percent, respectively. Before purchasing, producers should also seek assurances that no mycotoxins are in the DDGS.

An important consideration in feeding DDGS is economic value.

"Because DDGS replaces both corn and soybean meal in diets fed to pigs, the economic value of DDGS depends on the cost of corn and soybean meal," Stein explained. "The maximum price that can be paid for DDGS without increasing diet costs with different cots of corn and soybean meal are detailed in the report.

"With constant costs of soybean meal, the maximum price that can be paid for DDGS increases approximately $9-$10 for each 50 cents per bushel the cost of corn is increased," he said. "Likewise, if the price of soybean meal is increased by $25 per ton, then the price of DDGS can be increased by $11-$12 without increasing diet costs.

"Before including DDGS in diets fed to swine, producers are advised to make their own calculations based on local prices for corn, soybean meal and DDGS."

Usage of DDGS in swine diets is rapidly increasing, with many producers including 20 percent DDGS in diets fed to all categories of swine.

"While this level of inclusion is generally recommended, some producers are successfully using greater inclusion rates, and it is possible that up to 35 percent DDGS can be included in diets fed to nursery pigs and growing-finishing pigs," he noted.

"However, because of the risk of producing pork with soft bellies, the inclusion of DDGS in finishing diets should be limited to 20 percent until more research has been conducted to investigate the effects of higher inclusion rates on belly firmness."

[Text from file received from the University of Illinois Extension]