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It has been reported that if given a choice, pigs prefer to eat diets containing no DDGS rather than diets containing DDGS. It is possible that the reason for this reduced preference of pigs is that some sources of DDGS contain relatively high concentrations of sulfur (S). Therefore, the objective of the present experiments was to test the hypothesis that greater concentrations of S in DDGS-containing diets may negatively affect the feed preference and growth performance of weanling and growing-finishing pigs.
In Exp. 1, 48 barrows (20.1 ± 2.2 kg of BW) were randomly allotted to 3 treatment groups, with 8 replicate pens per treatment. A control diet based on corn and soybean meal, a DDGS diet containing 20% DDGS, and a DDGS-sulfur (DDGS-S) diet were prepared. The DDGS-S diet was similar to the DDGS diet with the exception that 0.74% CaSO4 was added to the diet. Two diets were provided in separate feeders in each pen: 1) the control diet and the DDGS diet, 2) the control diet and the DDGS-S diet, or 3) the DDGS diet and the DDGS-S diet. Preference for the DDGS diet and the DDGS-S diet vs. the control diet was 35.2 and 32.6%, respectively (P < 0.05), but there was no difference between the DDGS diet and the DDGS-S diet.
In Exp. 2, a total of 90 barrows (10.3 ± 1.4 kg of BW) were allotted to 3 treatments, with 10 replicate pens, and were fed the diets used in Exp. 1 for 28 d, but only 1 diet was provided per pen. Pigs fed the control diet gained more BW (497 vs. 423 and 416 g/d; P < 0.05) and had greater G:F (0.540 vs. 0.471 and 0.455; P < 0.05) than pigs fed the DDGS or the DDGS-S diet, but no differences between the DDGS and the DDGS-S diets were observed.
In Exp. 3, 30 barrows (49.6 ± 2.3 kg of BW) were allotted to 3 treatment groups, with 10 replicates per group. The experimental procedures were the same as in Exp. 1, except that 30% DDGS was included in the DDGS and DDGS-S diets and 1.10% CaSO4 was added to the DDGS-S diet. Feed preference for the DDGS and the DDGS-S diets, compared with the control diet, was 29.8 and 32.9%, respectively (P < 0.01), but there was no difference between the DDGS and the DDGS-S diets. In Exp. 4, a total of 120 barrows (34.2 ± 2.3 kg of BW) were fed grower diets for 42 d and finisher diets for 42 d. Diets were formulated as in Exp. 3. Pigs on the control diets gained more BW (1,021 vs. 912 and 907 g/d; P < 0.05) and had greater G:F (0.335 vs. 0.316 and 0.307; P < 0.05) than pigs fed the DDGS or DDGS-S diet, respectively, but no differences between pigs fed the DDGS and the DDGS-S diets were observed.
In conclusion, dietary S concentration does not negatively affect feed preference, feed intake, or growth performance of weanling or growing-finishing pigs fed diets based on corn, soybean meal, and DDGS.
BG Kim, Y Zhang and HH Stein. Sulfur concentration in diets containing corn, soybean meal, and distillers dried grains with solubles does not affect feed preference or growth performance of weanling or growing-finishing pigs. 2012. Journal of Animal Science, 90: 272-281. http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-3777