Importance of DDGS in Ruminant Nutrition

Abstract

Increasing population and developing technology increase the energy demand of the world. Risk of exhaustion of existing energy sources and the harmfull effects of fossil fuels on the environment bring into prominence alternative energy sources. Bioethanol, one of the alternative energy sources, can be produced from any biological raw material containing a certain amount of starch and cellulose, which can be easily converted into sugar. By- products emerging in the production of bioethanol have been used extensively in the field of animal nutrition in recent years. One of the most preferred of these by-products is DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles). DDGS is obtained by fermenting starch fractions of cereals such as corn, wheat, barley, rye with yeast and enzymes to produce bioethanol. The nutrient content of DDGS, which can be affected by various factors can be varied between 88-92% dry matter, 28-33% crude protein, 8-13% ether extract, 13-17% ADF, 34-38% NDF, 2500-3300 kcal / kg ME values. The high nutrient and energy content makes DDGS a valuable alternative feed material in ruminant nutrition. In this study, the methods of DDGS production, the nutrient content, and the advantages and disadvantages of usage in ruminant nutrition were investigated.