By: Byong Ryol Min, U.S. Grains Council Director in Korea
Although almost 80 percent of Korean mixed feed manufacturers have tried U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in livestock and poultry diets, they have not continuously used the products. A few of them have incorporated it into their feed formulations, but with a lack of experience with the nutritional value of DDGS, they are hesitant to use the product in their rations.

Recently, however, animal nutritionists and layer feed manufacturers in Korea have started to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of increasing DDGS inclusion rates in poultry diets.

The U.S. Grains Council hosted a webinar on Oct. 8 with Professor Sheila E. Purdum from the University of Nebraska presenting to 19 Korean nutritionists and feed formulators the results of several DDGS feeding trials conducted by the University.

During the webinar, Purdum outlined the procedures for the trials, including trials that used multiple enzymes in feed rations for laying hens, two DDGS feeding trials for broiler hens, a low-oil DDGS feeding trial for layers, and a DDGS feeding trial in which the product was included in a pelleted feed.

Based on the results, Purdum recommends DDGS, including the low-oil variety, as an economical feedstuff for broiler and layer rations. She also said the use of feed additives, such as enzymes, can enhance nutrient utilization of poultry diets with DDGS and can reduce nutrient output in manure.

Generally, due to its available nutrients, local feed millers can use the product in inclusion rates of 10 or 15 percent in layer diets. However, Purdum recommended that DDGS can be safely added to poultry diets at levels up to 30 percent with poultry maintaining previous performance.

Audience members asked a number of questions about the feeding value of low-oil products that contain a lower percentage of fat compared to high-oil DDGS that buyers had grown accustomed to in previous years. Purdum was able to effectively address these questions, and the webinar provided a valuable opportunity for the nutritionists and feed formulators to review the increased DDGS inclusion possibilities.

The Council will continue to provide technical information about U.S. DDGS, including the low-oil type, to the Korean livestock industry as one effort to increase its popularity among end-users in the country.