A recent study sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) highlighted the significant advantages of including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in rainbow trout diets. The research, comparing DDGS to soybean meal and other common feed ingredients, demonstrated that a 20 percent inclusion rate of DDGS yielded the most favorable impact on fish weight and growth while simultaneously reducing feed costs.
Facilitated by the Council’s Europe, Middle East, and Asia (EMEA) regional office in Tunis, Tunisia, the study was conducted at Aydin Adnan Menderes University (ADU) in Turkey, a key aquaculture hub. The findings have been published in Aquaculture Research magazine, making this valuable data accessible to industry stakeholders.
“Turkey is a major center for aquaculture, and we anticipate increased demand for U.S. DDGS both there and in other markets in the region,” said Ana Maria Ballesteros, USGC deputy regional director for EMEA. “With aquaculture research institutions recognizing the nutritional benefits of DDGS and its potential to lower aquafeed costs, aquafeed producers can confidently incorporate it as a standard ingredient in trout diets.”
The 60-day trial evaluated various performance parameters of fish fed with diets containing DDGS at inclusion levels of 0 percent, 10 percent, 20 percent and 30 percent. The results clearly indicated that incorporating DDGS enhanced fish weight and improved digestion compared to standard diets, without any adverse effects on fish health or coloration. The 20 percent inclusion rate was identified as the optimal balance between performance enhancement and cost-effectiveness.
“As aquaculture plays an increasingly crucial role in sustainably feeding the world’s growing population, the demand for efficient feed solutions will continue to rise,” Ballesteros added. “This study’s demonstration of DDGS as an effective fish feed ingredient creates new market opportunities for U.S. producers and offers consumers the prospect of higher-quality fish at lower input costs.”
USGC sponsored a second feeding trial at ADU in late 2024, focused on the application of corn-fermented proteins (CFPs) in seabass diets. The final report is being prepared for submission to relevant research publications in the coming months.
Read the research paper in full here.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.