Effects of Low-Fat Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles Supplementation on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation, Blood Metabolites, and Carcass Characteristics of Kiko Crossbred Wether Goats

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is a byproduct of bioethanol industry, and it contains crude protein of 25% to 31% and ether extract of 9% to 13%. DDGS produced from bioethanol industry in United States (US) are predominately low fat (3–5%). Nutritional profile of low-fat DDGS (LF-DDGS) showed that it is suitable feedstuff for livestock including goats and may reduce the production cost. However, there are limited studies on the effect of low-fat DDGS (LF-DDGS) in goats. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding different amounts of LF-DDGS on growth performance, growth efficiency, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, and carcass characteristics of Kiko crossbred wether goats. The study was conducted for 84 days, feeding different amounts of LF-DDGS. The results suggest that up to 30% LF-DDGS can be included in diets of castrated male goats without affecting the growth performance and carcass characteristics. ABSTRACT: Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) produced in US are predominately low fat, as the economics favor separating as much oil as possible for sale as renewable diesel feedstock and also for use in swine and poultry feed. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding different amounts of low-fat DDGS (LF-DDGS) on growth performance, growth efficiency, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, and carcass characteristics of Kiko crossbred wether goats. Twenty-four goats, 5–6 months of age, were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental diets (n = 6/diet), 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% LF-DDGS on an as-fed basis, and fed for 84 days. Data collected were analyzed using an orthogonal contrast test for equally spaced treatments. Average total gains, average daily gains, and gain-to-feed ratios were similar among the treatments (p > 0.05). Rumen acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations and acetate: propionate ratios were similar (p > 0.05) among treatments. There were no differences (p > 0.05) among treatments for dressing percentage, rib eye area, and backfat thickness. Findings suggest that at least up to 30% LF-DDGS can be included in diets of castrated male goats without affecting production performance and carcass characteristics.