Energy and nutrient digestibilities in wheat dried distillers' grains with solubles fed to growing pigs

The aim of this study was to characterize the nutritional profile and to determine the digestibilities of nutrients in wheat-based dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) fed to growing pigs. Six ileal cannulated barrows individually housed in metabolism crates were fed experimental diets which consisted of a basal wheat-based diet or the basal diet with wheat replaced by 400 g kg(-1) mixed wheat or winter wheat DDGS in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design. Ileal digesta and fecal samples were collected for determining apparent ileal (AID) and apparent total tract digestibilities (ATTD), respectively. The contents of proximate components and amino acids in DDGS were about three times higher than in wheat. The AID and ATTD of dry matter, nitrogen and energy were lower (P < 0.05) in DDGS compared with wheat. The DDGS samples had lower (P < 0.05) AID of amino acids compared with wheat; average values for lysine, threonine and isoleucine in DDGS were 43.8, 62.9 and 68.0%, respectively. The ileal and fecal digestible energy content in DDGS averaged 9.7 +/- 1.18 and 13.5 +/- 0.61 MJ kg(-1), respectively. Respective values for wheat were 13.3 +/- 0.52 and 14.6 +/- 0.22 MJ kg(-1) and both were higher (P < 0.05) than in DDGS. (c) 2005 Society of Chemical Industry.