Study: Higher levels of DDGS results in less phosphorus

That, in a nutshell, were the conclusions of researchers at the University of Minnesota. They searched for ways to optimise utilisation of dietary phosphorus (P) by pigs, since P is expensive and potentially harmful to the environment.

P and calcium (Ca) balance were evaluated in nursery pigs fed a control maize-soybean meal diet formulated on a total P basis, and four experimental diets containing maize DDGS formulated on either a total phosphorus or available P basis.

Formulating DDGS diets (100 or 200 g/kg) on a total P or available P basis had no effect on P digestibility or total excretion, but total dietary P content is reduced when diets are formulated on an available P basis. The study was published in Animal Feed Science and Technology.