Effect of Fractionation of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (DDGS) on Pelleting Characteristics of Broiler Diets

Recently, the Elusieve process, a combination of elutriation (air classification) and sieving (screening) was developed to separate fiber from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to increase DDGS utilization in nonruminant (poultry and swine) diets. Elusieve process produces three products: 1) Pan DDGS, with 5% higher protein content than conventional DDGS, which would be used at higher inclusion levels in broiler diets because of low fiber content; 2) Big DDGS, with nearly the same protein content as conventional DDGS, which would be used at same inclusion levels as conventional DDGS; and 3) Fiber product. The objective of this study was to determine and compare pellet-mill throughput, power consumption, and pellet quality for broiler diets incorporating different levels (0, 10, and 20%) of conventional DDGS and DDGS products from Elusieve process. Poultry oil contents were lower (1.5-1.6%) in diets comprising Pan DDGS and diets without DDGS than in the other diets (2.2-3.1%). The feed throughput was not affected by inclusion levels or type of DDGS. Pellet quality (pellet durability index [PDI]) for diets comprising Pan DDGS (both 10 and 20% inclusion levels) was significantly better than PDI for diets comprising conventional DDGS, Big DDGS, and the diet without DDGS. Better pellet quality of diets comprising Pan DDGS could be due to lower quantity of poultry oil used as well as compositional characteristics such as low fiber and high protein. Diets with Big DDGS had similar pelleting characteristics to those with conventional DDGS. Pellet quality deteriorated at higher inclusion levels of conventional DDGS, Big DDGS, and Enhanced DDGS. Considering that Pan DDGS would be included at higher inclusion levels in broiler diets, superior pellet quality of diets comprising Pan DDGS is beneficial.