Evaluating Growth and Carcass Changes in Cull Gilts Fed Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles

The purpose of this study was to examine growth and carcass changes in cull gilts (n = 12 animals which had not conceived) when fed exclusively either ground corn or distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for 14 d. There were significant changes between the 2 treatments in terms of feed consumption and growth. Over the 14-d period, the ground corn group consumed 342.5 kg whereas the DDGS group consumed 93.4 kg. At d 14, the average BW of the ground corn fed pigs was greater (P ≤ 0.05) compared with DDGS fed gilts. Carcass cuts were compared between treatments and only relative picnic weight (picnic/hot carcass weight) was greater (P ≤ 0.005) compared with ground corn treated animals. Subjective evaluation of bratwurst from the DDGS fed group appeared smeary compared with bratwurst in the corn fed group. The ratio of saturated:unsaturated fat of bratwurst was less (P ≤ 0.04) in the DDGS treatment (0.59) than in the corn treatment (0.62). Arachidonic (C20:4n6) concentration was less (P ≤ 0.01) in the bratwurst from animals on the corn treatment (0.17) than those on the DDGS treatment (0.31). In summary, feeding exclusively DDGS altered feed consumption, final BW, and lipid fatty acid composition of bratwurst