Effects of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles with or without protease and ß-mannanase on the performance of turkey hen poults.

Expansion in bioethanol production has resulted in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) being readily available as a major protein source in the poultry industry. Two experiments were conducted to investigate effects of wheat DDGS (wDDGS) and enzyme on nutrient digestibility and performance of turkey hen poults (7 to 21 d). Two starter diets (0 or 30% wDDGS) were formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient requirements for Hybrid Converter female turkeys. These diets were then mixed in different proportions to obtain 2 additional wDDGS inclusion levels (10 and 20%). In Experiment 1, 0 and 30% wDDGS diets were each subdivided into 3 portions and supplemented with no enzyme (E-), protease (P+; 0.125 g/kg) or ß-mannanase (M+; 0.5 g/kg). A total of 144, 7-day-old poults were randomly distributed in groups of 4 in 6 replicate cages per treatment. There were no significant main effects or interactions on feed intake from 7 to 21 d. However, a positive (P<0.05) effect of 30% wDDGS was shown for weight gain and gain:feed. A significant interaction on nitrogen retention (NR) was found between enzymes and wDDGS level. There were significant main effects and interactions on the AME of the diets. The AME was higher (P<0.05) for 30% compared to 0% wDDGS. Supplementation of P+ decreased (P<0.05) AME for 0% diets as compared to 30% diets and vice versa for M+. In Experiment 2, 7-day-old poults (4 birds per 6 replications per treatment) were fed 4 levels of wDDGS (0, 10, 20, and 30%) with no enzyme. A linear (P<0.01) response was found for gain:feed with 30% wDDGS having a better response. Quadratic (P<0.01) responses were also found for NR and AME; both were highest for 10% wDDGS diets. In summary, no beneficial effects of P+ or M+ were demonstrated in diets containing 30% wDDGS. Wheat DDGS is a valuable energy source and as high as 30% can be incorporated in turkey hen poults (7 to 21 d) diets.

Evaluation of inclusion level of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles with and without protease or ß-mannanase on performance and water intake of turkey hens.

It is becoming a common practice to use higher levels of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (wDDGS) in poultry diets. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of level of inclusion of wDDGS with or without enzyme (E-, i.e., wDDGSE-) supplementation on performance and water consumption of turkey hens (0 to 72 d). Two diets (0 or 30% wDDGS) were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of Hybrid Converter turkeys. Diets (0 or 30% wDDGS; starter, grower, and finisher) were then blended to obtain a different level of inclusion (15%) of wDDGS. The 30% wDDGS diet was divided into 3 fractions and 2 fractions supplemented with either protease (P+, i.e., wDDGSP+; 0.126 g/kg) or ß-mannanase (M+, i.e., wDDGSM+; 0.05 g/kg). All 5 diets were fed ad libitum as mash. The 700 0-d turkey hens were randomly allocated into groups of 35 birds per replicate with 4 replicate floor pens per treatment, in a completely randomized design. Water consumption per pen was recorded beginning at 7 d. There was no effect of dietary treatment on feed intake. BW of turkey hens (52 d; grower) was significantly higher for 30% wDDGSP+ as compared to 0% wDDGSE- or 15% wDDGSE- diets; but was not different from 30% wDDGSE- or 30% wDDGSM+ diets. FCR (P < 0.01; 28 to 52 d), and total FCR (P < 0.05; 0 to 72 d) was significantly improved for birds fed 15 or 30% wDDGS regardless of enzyme treatment compared to 0% wDDGSE-. Water intake (WI, in mL per bird per day) tended to be higher (P = 0.08) between 7 and 28 d for 30% wDDGSP+ diets compared to other treatments. Similarly, WI of birds fed 30% wDDGSP+ was higher (P < 0.05; 28 to 52 and 52 to 72 d) and total WI (P = 0.07; 7 to 72 d) tended to be higher than other treatments. This study is the first to report the impact of wDDGS on WI. As high as 30% wDDGS can be substituted in turkey hen diets. No effect of P+ or M+ at the inclusion level tested was found on performance.

The effects of extrusion of wheat distillers dried grains with solubles with or without an enzyme cocktail on performance of turkey hen poults.

Two experiments were conducted to determine if extrusion (EX) or enzymes (E) could overcome the restrictions (e.g., high fiber) of feeding wheat distillers dried grain with solubles (wDDGS) and improve its nutritional value for feeding turkeys. Two starter diets with either 0 or 30% wDDGS were formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient requirements of the Hybrid Converter female turkeys. The 30% wDDGS diet was substituted with either non-extruded (EX-) or extruded (EX+) wDDGS to produce three basal diets [0% wDDGS (EX-) or 30% wDDGS (EX-/EX+)]. Diets were blended to obtain 15% wDDGS. In the respective treatments, only wDDGS was extruded (temperature; 118°C, retention; 15 sec, total moisture; 25% and pressure 33 bar). The respective experimental diets were supplemented with/without an enzyme cocktail (E; 0.5 g/kg). Test diets were fed from 7-21 d in a completely randomized design. In Experiment 1, a total of 210 turkey hen poults were fed diets containing 0, 15, or 30% wDDGS (EX-) with or without enzyme (E+/E-). Body weight (BW) and feed intake (FI) were significantly higher for 0% wDDGSE-. Nitrogen retention (NR) and apparent metabolizable energy (AME) for the 30% wDDGSE- was significantly higher than other treatments at 21 d. The results indicated significant main effects of E and an interaction between wDDGS level and E. In Experiment 2, 280 turkey hen poults were fed 8 diets [15/30% wDDGS (E+/E-), (EX-/EX+)]. The level of wDDGS had a significant effect on BW, FI and gain:feed; 15% inclusion was superior to 30%. There were significant 2- and 3-way interactions for AME and NR at 21 d due to differences in enzyme response with 15 or 30% wDDGS inclusion and/or extrusion of wDDGS. As high as 15% wDDGS can be incorporated in turkey hen diets. There were no beneficial effects of EX or E on poult performance.