November 25, 2009

US research finds enzymes can boost DDGS performance

While the idea of incorporating enzymes into DDGS for livestock feed is relatively new, the combined product could bring cost and performance benefits to livestock producers, according to trials conducted by US universities.

Using enzyme technology provides producers the opportunity to reformulate diets with lower energy, phosphorus and calcium levels, while including some DDGS in formulations could further reduce feed costs.

The latest research from Danisco Animal Nutrition found that broiler producers looking for lower feed costs with DDGS supplemented with enzymes can save around US$12 per tonne without risking bird performance.

Trials conducted by the universities showed that adding both a new generation phytase together with xylanase, amylase and protease enzymes to corn soy broiler diets containing 10 percent corn DDGS improved bodyweight gain and feed efficiency. Bodyweight gain improved five percent to eight percent, while feed conversion improved up to 11 points.

In the Auburn University trial, the enzyme combination was added to a lower cost diet reduced in energy by 80kcal/kg feed and containing 0.1-percent lower available phosphorus and lower calcium. At 56 days of age, broiler live weight gain improved eight percent and feed conversion numerically improved four points compared to broilers fed a standard corn soy diet containing 10 percent corn DDGS.

A University of Illinois trial showed that adding both the new generation phytase with xylanase to a corn-soy pig diet containing 20 percent corn DDGS improved digestible energy by 5.6 percent to 175kcal/kg, ileal amino acid digestibility by 4.5 percent and increased phosphorus digestibility from 22 percent to 51 percent. The enzyme combinations help breakdown some of the anti-nutrients in diets containing corn and corn DDGS.