US study focuses on DDGS use in poultry diets

Iowa State University researchers are working to safely increase feed use by cattle and poultry producers of DDGS, a co-product made during ethanol production.

The research by Mike Persia, Stephanie Hansen, assistant professors of animal science, and Dong Ahn, professor of animal science, is funded by the Iowa Power Fund.

Persia's research is focusing on egg laying hens. Currently diets only contain 5-8% DDGS. He expects that the biggest changes occur in the yolk. "DDGS is high in lutein and unsaturated fatty acids, which might change the yolk composition of fatty acids."

Another area the research is focused on is how the DDGS will affect the waste products of poultry. DDGS are high in amino acids, which can break down into nitrogen in the chickens' digestive system and can be excreted.

Excess nitrogen in the waste can led to increased evaporation of ammonia and can be an irritant that affects bird safety, human safety and the environment.

Since the ethanol industry is still fairly new, Persia said that feeding cattle and poultry the ethanol co-product DDGS is still not a science as they learn more and more about the feed ratios.

The researchers say one of the biggest hurdles is the variability in DDGS. The makeup of the DDGS varies in the percentage of fibre, oil, protein and sulfur from ethanol plant to ethanol plant and even within the same plant on different days.