DISTILLERS DRIED GRAINS WITH SOLUBLES FROM MAIZE AND XYLANASE SUPPLEMENTATION IN BOVANS WHITE PULLETS AND HENS

Abstract

During ethanol production from maize corn, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS, at tables labelled in Spanish as GSDS) are generated and used in poultry farming because of their high nutrient content. The hypothesis was that DDGS meet nutrient requirements in pullets and hens and xylanase will improve productive variables. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the inclusion of DDGS and xylanase in pullet and hen feed. In this study, 400 pullets from one day to 70 weeks of age were used, distributed in 10 treatments, with five replicates of eight pullets apiece, and a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement with five levels of DDGS (0, 8, 8, 16, 24 and 32%) and two of xylanase (0 and 0.05%). Variables were productive yield, sexual maturity, egg quality, cost per pullet and per kg of egg. Results indicated that in pullets, DDGS and xylanase did not modify the productive and sexual maturity variables (p>0.05); in laying, from 16% DDGS onwards, production began to be affected, while the enzyme had a positive effect (p≤0.05) on yield. With 32% DDGS, the cost of rearing and one kg of egg increased (p≤0.05). In egg quality, DDGS improved Haugh units and yolk color (p≤0.05), while xylanase affected them (p≤0.05). In conclusion, in pullets up to 32% DDGS can be included with success for productive and sexual maturity variables, while xylanase is not necessary. In hens, DDGS above 16% cause adverse effects on egg yield and price, while xylanase improves productive variables and decreases egg cost.