Effects of DDGS and Poultry Fat As Supplements for Bermudagrass Hay-Based Diet on Blood Metabolites, Growth, Meat and Carcass Characteristic of Spanish Goats

Increased consumption of goat meat in the USA is primarily a consequence of influx of immigrants and health-conscious consumers about high fat and cholesterol intake with other red meats. Deficit in national production is partially compensated by frozen imports from New Zealand and Australia. Goats are mostly raised on pasture with seasonal variations in nutrient availability. On the other hand, the high cost of feed supplements (grains and soybean meal) limits profitability of goat production. On unit weight basis, fats have more energy than grains or grain supplements. Dried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS), a by-product of the biofuel industry, rich in protein and soluble fiber may be an alternative for corn and soybean which are being diverted to biofuel production. Hence, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of replacing corn with DDGS, poultry fat or DDGS plus poultry fat on growth and carcass parameters of growing goats (6 months old) consuming Bermudagrass hay-based diets. Treatments consisted of Bermudagrass hay-based diet supplemented with corn (Control), DDGS, poultry fat (PF) or DDGS plus poultry fat (DDGSPF). Animals were individually housed and fed one of four isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets once daily for 60 days. At the end of the 60 day-feeding period, animals were processed after 24 h fast. Collected data were analyzed as a completely randomized design using the mixed model procedure of SAS. When significant at P<0.05 treatment means were separated using LSD. Results indicate that final weight, hot and chilled carcass weights were decreased (P<0.05) when poultry fat alone was used to replace corn. Goats supplemented with corn had lower ruminal pH (6.97) compared to DDGSPF (7.30), DDGS (7.32) and PF (7.40± 0.036) but dry matter intake (1.210 ± 0.042 kg) was greater when compared to PF supplemented animals (1.020 ± 0.042 kg). Total protein intake was not affected (P>0.05) by supplement type (162± 0.11 g). Meat protein content was not significantly different (21.02 ± 0.22%). Blood glucose levels were not significantly different (P>0.05) among treatments (70.70±3.13 mg/dL). Ruminal ammonia nitrogen was higher in control (11.24 mg/dL) compared to DDGS (6.45 mg/dL), PF (3.30 mg/dL) and DDGSPF (2.59±1.36 mg/dL) animals. These results indicate that DDGS and poultry fat can be excellent substitutes for corn in growing goats consuming Bermuda grass hay-based diets.