Amino Acid Digestibility and Energy Utilization of a High Corn-DDGS Diet Supplemented with a Carbohydrase Mixture

The non-starch polysaccharide content of corn-derived distiller dried gains with soluble (DDGS) is 3-4 times higher compared to corn. Some of the anti-nutritional effects of its high fiber content may be ameliorated with the supplementation of carbohydrases. Our objective was to measure in pigs increases in amino acid (AA) digestibility and energy utilization in a diet with high inclusion of DDGS and supplemented with a carbohydrase mixture.

Eight crossbred pigs (47.0 ± 1.5 kg) were surgically fitted with a simple T cannula at the distal ileum (Wubben et al., 2001). Apparent and standardized (SID) AA digestibility and ENL (Stein et al., 2007), and apparent metabolizable energy (aME) and apparent energy metabolizability (AEM, Adeola et al., 2011) were determined. Treatments were corn-soybean meal-based or 40% DDGS-based diet supplemented or not with a carbohydrase mixture. A 7-d washout period was used between sample collection periods. Data were analyzed as a replicated 4x4 Latin Square Design using proc mixed (SAS® Institute, Gary, NC).

Carbohydrase supplementation improved the SID of Arg, Ile, Met, Phe, Thr, Ala, Glx, Ser, and Tyr (P < 0.04), while Leu, Lys, Val, and Gly tended (P < 0.10) to increase. Pigs given DDGS-based diet had lower SID for all measured AA (P < 0.04) except Leu, Met, Ala, Glx, and Tyr. Carbohydrase supplementation had no effect (P= 0.48 to 0.85) on aME or AEM. Compared to corn-soybean meal diet, inclusion of DDGS increased urinary energy excretion and carbohydrase supplementation tended to reduce it (P < 0.09).

Carbohydrase supplementation increased AA digestibility but had no effect on energy utilization in growing pigs.

Carbohydrase supplementation may be used to increase AA digestion in diets containing high inclusion levels of DDGS or other high-fiber containing feedstuffs.

Adeola L et al. 2011. J. Anim. Sci. 89:3189-3218; Stein H et al., 2007. J. Anim. Sci. 85:172-180; Wubben J et al., 2001. Contemp. Top. Lab. Anim. Sci. 40:27-31. Keywords: Amino acid, digestibility, metabolizable energy, carbohydrase.