Use of DDGS in Animal Feeds : Scope and Future of DDGS in Dairy Animals Feeding

Use of DDGS in Animal Feeds : Scope and Future of DDGS in Dairy Animals Feeding

The inclusion of distillers grain with solubles (DGS) in the formulations of dairy feed ration is increasing and may continue  in coming days.

Livestock and poultry rearing is one of the most important activities in the rural areas of the country contributing significantly to the national economy. Presently the Gross Value added (GVA) of the livestock sector contributed to Indian agriculture is increasing steadily with a share of 30.79% in the agriculture and allied sector’s GVA and 5.73% in the country’s total GVA.

The livestock feed contains a substantial amount of cereals and oil seed meals, which directly compete with human consumption. Because there is nearly no more room for agriculture, the availability of feed resources could be one of the biggest obstacles to increasing production in the future. Hence it is imperative to look for alternate feed sources and in developing nations like India, there is a greater need for alternative ingredients, which has a significant impact on the need for feed and raw materials. The increased cost and the limited supply of conventional grains have necessitated focusing research and extension efforts towards the potential utilization of energy and proteins from several grain by-products which are cheaper with high nutritive values. Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) can play a vital role in formulating less expensive diets for dairy animals.

Feeding Value of Corn DDGS for Dairy Cattle

Corn DDGS is a very good protein source for dairy cows. The protein content in high quality corn DDGS is more than 30% of dry matter. Corn DDGS is a good source of ruminally undegradable protein (RUP), or by-pass protein, for cattle (Table 4). Most of the readily degradable proteins in corn are degraded during the fermentation process, resulting in a proportionately higher level of RUP than found in corn. The quality of protein in corn DDGS is fairly good, but as for most corn products, lysine is the first limiting amino acid. As a result, milk production can sometimes be increased when dairy cows are fed supplemental ruminally protected lysine and methionine, or when DDGS is blended with other protein supplements that contain more lysine. However, in most situations, milk production is as high, or higher, than when dairy cows are fed soybean meal as the protein source. It is important to recognize that dark colored corn DDGS usually indicates heat damage of the protein, which may lead to reduced milk production. In a study by Powers et al. (1995), dairy cows were fed diets containing dark colored DDGS had lower milk production than when cows were fed diets containing golden colored DDGS. Therefore, it is important to use high quality sources of golden colored DDGS in dairy cows diets to achieve maximum milk production.

Corn DDGS is also a very good energy source for dairy cattle. Energy values for high quality DDGS are 10 to 15% higher than values previously reported in NRC (2001), and it contains more energy per kg than corn. Furthermore, because almost all of the starch in corn is converted to ethanol during the fermentation process, the fat and fiber concentrations in DDGS are increased by a factor of three compared to corn. Corn DDGS contains high amounts of NDF but low amounts of lignin. This makes DDGS a highly digestible fiber source for cattle, and reduces digestive upsets compared to when corn is fed. The highly digestible fiber in corn DDGS also allows it to serve as a partial replacement for forages and concentrates in diets for dairy and beef cattle.

The maximum recommended feeding level of corn DDGS in diets for lactating dairy cows is 20 % of the ration dry matter. This level corresponds to about 4.5 to 5.5 kg of DDGS in the diet per day, using typical feed intake levels of lactating dairy cows in the U.S. There are no palatability problems when feeding high quality DDGS to dairy cows, and nutritionists should be able to formulate nutritionally balanced diets up to that level. However, feeding at this maximum level may require the need to use some other protein supplements because of the lower protein quality (lysine) in DDGS. Furthermore, the diet will contain excess protein unless the forages used in the ration are primarily grasses. The phosphorus concentration of the diet may also be another factor to consider in order to minimize phosphorus excretion in the manure. Lastly, research studies have shown that as long as adequate amounts of fiber is provided by forages in the diet, feeding DDGS up to 20 % of dry matter intake will not affect milk fat concentration.

Nutrient Composition of High Quality U.S. Corn DDGS for Ruminants.

Production process to get DDGS

Distillers grains with solubles (DG) is a unique feedstuff providing protein, fat, highly digestible fiber and minerals, all of which can be utilized in dairy rations. Distillers grains with solubles are coproducts from the manufacture of ethanol. Although other cereal grains, such as sorghum, wheat or barley, can be used to produce ethanol, the predominant cereal grain used in the United States to produce ethanol is corn (Zea mays).

During the dry milling process used for ethanol production, the entire corn kernel is used in the fermentation process. The corn is cleaned and then hammer milled to a medium-coarse to fine-grind meal. The resulting flour is combined with water to form a slurry, and enzymes are added to convert the starch in the kernel to sugar. The resulting mash is then cooked and sterilized to kill unwanted bacteria.

Once the mash is cooled, yeasts are added to the mash and the sugar is converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide. The ethanol is then extracted in the distillation process, and the remaining water and solids are collected and referred to as whole stillage.

 It is a co-product of ethanol production plants that use corn for manufacturing. During the yeast fermentation in ethanol plants, corn is ground, mixed with water, cooked and the liquefied starch from this process is hydrolyzed and fermented to produce ethanol and CO₂. As a result, the non-fermentable components of this process which are rich in essential nutrients such as protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals are recovered in a highly concentrated form as Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles. They are produced by drying mash over an extended period of time after multiple stages of concentration. These products are made up of initial raw material components that are resistant to fermentation (such as non-starchy carbohydrates, protein, fat, and ash), as well as yeast biomass. Protein, exogenous amino acids, B-group vitamins, biotin, and mineral components, including phosphorus, are all abundant in the dried grains of cereal distillers. Whole stillage can be pressed, but more commonly it is centrifuged to separate the coarse solids from the liquid. The liquid is referred to as distillers solubles, also known as thin stillage. The thin stillage can be concentrated in an evaporator to become condensed distillers solubles (CDS), also referred to as syrup. The coarse solids collected from the centrifuge are known as wet distillers grains. Wet distillers grains and CDS are combined and dried to form dried DG.

The following two major products are available from this industry

Wet Distillers Grains (WDG) contain primarily unfermented grain residues (protein, fibre, fat and up to 70% moisture). WDG has a shelf life of four to five days. Due to the high water content, WDG transport is usually economically viable within the area nearer to the production facility.

Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) is WDG that has been dried with the concentrated thin stillage to 10-12 percent moisture. DDGS has a long shelf life and may be shipped to any market regardless of its proximity to the production facility. Drying is costly, as it requires further energy input.

The conversion rate of grains to ethanol and distiller’s grains varies with the different types of grains and the process used. One ton of corn produces approximately 378 L of ethanol and 479 kg WDG (70% moisture content), or 309 kg of DDGS (10% moisture content). Also, one ton of wheat produces approximately 372 L of ethanol and 457 kg WDG (70% moisture content), or 295 kg of DDGS (10% moisture content).

Nutritional characteristics of DDGS

The high protein DDGS, resulting from the pre-fermentation fractionation of the corn grain, contains approximately 40% crude protein. The solubles stemming from the fermentation of fractionated corn grain are combined with the corn hulls and sold for use in ruminant feed. Except the majority of the starch, which has been consumed during the fermentation process, it contains all the nutrients from grain in a concentrated form. It has 35% soluble distiller’s grain and 65% distiller’s grain. The DDGS from various sources at different locations of the country contained average protein and fat content of rice DDGS as (45.88 and 4.36) and corn DDGS as (28.50 and 7.36). The presence of dead yeast cells gives the protein better amino acid composition and very good nutritive value. Corn dried distillers grain is rich in phosphorus (0.43–0.83% of dry matter) and sulphur (0.31% to 1.93% of dry matter).

Feeding of DDGS to dairy animals

DDGS can be included in dairy animal diets up to 20 percent without decreasing dry matter intake, milk production, and milk fat. When formulating diets containing DDGS for lactating dairy cows, consideration should be given to the type of forage, forage-to-concentrate ratio, crude fat content of DDGS, and the need for supplemental lysine to achieve optimal performance. Rice DDGS can be effectively used in TMR by lactating dairy cows making it a valuable feed ingredient for use in dairy rations. In the case of ruminants, it is important to note that the distiller’s grain is a feedstuff with high UDP, with beneficial fiber content that does not cause rumen acidosis. DDGS has a positive influence on milk yield and its fat and protein content.

Because of the high content of insoluble fiber, DDGS has a positive influence on digestion and lowers the pH in the digestive system. This results in the reduction of the pathogen population and diminishes the occurrence of diarrhoea in young animals. DDGS is also a good source of protein and energy for lactating cows. In DDGS, the main carrier of energy is fat and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), which constitutes 40–45% of dry matter, has a low content of lignin, and easily ferments in the rumen to produce volatile fatty acids. So, DDGS is a feedstuff that can restrict rumen acidosis. DDGS may be a valuable source of phosphorus in the postpartum period preventing hypo-phosphatemia. It is also rich in sulphur and corn DDGS may contain from 0.31% to 1.93% sulphur in dry matter which may provide sulphur anion-reducing cation-anion balance of feed ration (DCAB). This is desirable for preventing postpartum paralysis in animals.

Future Scope of DDGS in dairy animal feeding

Existing research results suggest the effective use of dry and wet distillers grains in livestock nutrition and especially the inclusion of corn dried distillers grains (DDGS) in feed rations for cows. Reprocessing the by-products of agriculture and food industry is likely an alternative to the traditional nutrition of animals. It is also a good way of utilizing the valuable nutrients that these by-products contain. Corn DDGS is particularly a valuable feed for dairy cows in the postpartum period, when its use prevents postpartum paralysis, as it is a good source of phosphorus and sulphur, diminishes the negative balance of energy due to more fat content and chances of rumen acidosis due to favourable composition fiber fraction NDF. It also improves the feed intake due to yeast content. From the environmental perspective, one of the beneficial effects of DDGS as a component in feed rations is the decrease in methane production. Another may be lowering the costs of feed for animals as it is relatively cheap. Additionally, milk producers are now switching from conventional feed to more nutritionally balanced compound feed, which may favour the use of DDGS in the dairy ration.

Benefit and Limitations of Using DGS in Dairy Cattle

Inclusion of DGS in a lactating dairy diet is a practice receiving increasing attention from researchers. DGS inclusion rate of 20 percent (Schingoethe, 2006), and 26 percent (Linn and Chase, 1996) of total ration dry matter base was reported. Schingoethe and co-workers also suggested including more than the 20 percent of the ration as DGS for diets containing higher proportions of corn silage. For other dairy cattle, a DGS inclusion rate of 15 percent is recommended for replacement heifers while distillers grains are not commonly recommended for calves less than 6 months old.

In most studies, milk production remained the same or showed a small increase in response to DGS inclusion (Schingoethe, 2004). A drop in feed intake, milk yield, and milk protein concentration was reported for DGS inclusion rates greater than 30 percent of the dietary dry matter. Most recently Kleinschmit and co-workers (2006) reported that feeding DGS at 20 percent did not significantly decrease the concentration of milk fat, but significantly reduced milk protein percentage. Reduced dry matter intake and reduced milk production were also reported at DGS rates exceeding 25 percent of the ration dry matter. Other positive impacts of feeding distillers grains to dairy cattle could be protection against acidosis, laminitis and liver abscesses. However, feeding high levels of DGS may inhibit some fiber-digesting bacteria normally found in the rumen, which could lead to depressed milk fat, a component used to make butter.

In deciding the inclusion of DGS in dairy feed, producers have historically evaluated the variability of DGS nutrient content, ingredient costs, and issues related to on-farm storage and handling of DGS. The following information will allow the impacts of DGS use on the Nutrient Management Plan to also be considered.

Nutritional Characteristics of DDGS

Corn is one of the most often cultivated agricultural crops in the world. And it is progressively essential both in terms of food and in the chemical and energy industries. The initial research into dried distillers grain as potential elements of protein in feeding livestock occurred in 1945. In the past few years, the explanation of potential of using dried distiller grains as a feed for farm animals, particularly cattle (both beef cattle and dairy cattle), pigs, and poultry.

Corn dried distillers grain is rich protein feed: on the basis of approximation, it consists of 28–36% total protein (BO) as a dry element which is featured by the low rate of decomposition in the rumen, leading to rich content of ungradable fraction (RUP)—from 47% to 63% BO (55% on average). The existence of dead yeast cells provides the protein with good amino acid composition and rich nutritive value.

Because of the rich content of insoluble fiber, DDGS has an optimistic influence on digestion and reduces the pH in the digestive system. This leads to the lowering of the pathogen population and eliminates the existence of diarrhea in immature animals. DDGS is also a high source of protein and energy for lactating cows.

DDGS contains a lower level of energy than the soybean meal (by 4%), barley (by 17%), and wheat (by 25%), but greater than the rapeseed meal (by 20–40%). The tabular composition of energy for corn DDGS, excluding gross energy (heat of combustion), is less than in grains. Technological upgrades in ethanol production have made it feasible for the net energy of lactation in the decoction to in distinguish the concentration of energy in the grains.

Color of the DDGS

The color of the DDGS indicates the quality, if the color is lighter and more yellowish indicates the higher quality. If the DDGS color is darker and brownish then it is high in amino acids. The facts that can undergo the Maillard reactions and can be combined with carbohydrates rendering and undigestable for the animals. It is thought that the dark color may result of dying the wet DDGS in the plants at very high temperatures.

Influence of DDGS on Health and Productivity of Animals

Literature complies with research results related to the incorporation of wet (WDGS) and dried (DDGS) distillers’ grains to TMR. Distillers grains are a replacement for the later extraction of soy meal, or as a supplement to TMR mixture in the ratio of 10% to 20%. According to Janicek et al, this ratio of DDGS in complex feeds for cattle affects the growth of milk yield and the composition of fat and protein in it. Powers et al. portrayed that the use of DDGS and WDGS in feeding rich-producing dairy cows leads to impactful results irrespective of the type of decoction, i.e., dried and wet.

The percentage of fat in milk elevates slightly in livestock-fed TMR with the incorporation of DDGS and WDGS. However, feeding the wet decoction implies considerable growth of FAT percentage in milk, probably because of access to fiber in WDGS.

One of the potential causes may be the reactions of lipolysis, hydrogenation, and synthesis of fatty acids in the rumen, so their volume relies on the ratio and alterations in the profile during fermentation. Examining conversions of fatty acids in cow and sheep rumen and their flow to duodenum, Beam et al. and Jenkins, maintain the amount of fat collected from the feed. The ingredients of DDGS show rich levels of unsaturated fatty acids, which has an advantageous impact on their profile in the rumen digesta. The level of C18:1n9c and C18:2n6c acids in the rumen digesta in the in vitro analysis leverages the incorporation of DDGS. However, the levels of C15:0, C16:0, and C20:0 saturated fatty acids and unsaturated C14:1 in the rumen digesta during in vitro fermentation do not alter.

Conclusions

Feeding distillery grains to dairy cows is a viable option for dairy farmers to provide supplemental rumen undegradable protein and energy to dairy cows, with equal or improved milk production. When feeding distillery grains to dairy cows, nutritionists and producers must pay close attention to dietary CP and RDP, Phosphorus and Sulphur, and fat concentrations to obtain optimum rumen function, productivity, and nutrient excretion.

Utilizing DDGS in livestock feed offers opportunities but requires careful formulation and quality control due to nutritional variability. Compared to other feeds, DDGS is cheaper but its use poses problems, as it is a changeable composition, which requires technological procedures to standardize it. Attention to factors like rumen unsaturated fatty acid load and DCAD is crucial for ruminants. DDGS’s nutritional benefit enhances its potential as a valuable, sustainable feed ingredient for dairy animals.

Use of DDGS in Animal Feeds

USING DISTILLERS GRAINS IN DAIRY CATTLE RATIONS

Use of DDGS in Animal Feeds

USING DISTILLERS GRAINS IN DAIRY CATTLE RATIONS

source-Edited and compiled by-LITD

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