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Distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS), a co-product from ethanol production, are high in protein and fat but their high fiber content limits how well pigs can digest and use their nutrients.
Objective: This study explored how adding extruded corn DDGS to piglet diets affects growth, digestion, intestinal health, and gut microbiota.
Methods: A total of 144 weaned piglets (initial weight ~6.6 kg) were divided into three groups. One group received a standard diet (control), while the other two were fed diets containing either 8% or 16% extruded corn DDGS for 28 days. The DDGS were extruded at 120 to 130 °C using a high-capacity double-helix extruder with a barrel length of 4,000 mm and transport screws of 200 mm. On days 14 and 28, feed intake and body weight were recorded, and diarrhea was assessed twice daily by visual and physical inspection.
Results: The digestibility of energy, protein, and other nutrients remained similar between the control and the 8% DDGS group, although the higher 16% inclusion reduced nutrient digestibility slightly. Interestingly, both DDGS diets improved fat digestibility, likely due to the changes caused by the extrusion process. In terms of gut health, the 8% DDGS diet led to positive effects: antioxidant activity increased in both the liver and small intestine, and levels of key immune markers in the gut (such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α) were higher. There was also improved expression of genes involved in maintaining the intestinal barrier (tight junction proteins like claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1). In contrast, the 16% DDGS diet did not show the same benefits and even reduced the villus-to-crypt ratio in the jejunum. Microbiota analysis revealed that extruded corn DDGS altered the microbial ecosystem in the colon. While the abundance of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus decreased, other microbial groups known to play roles in fiber fermentation and gut health, such as Ruminococcus and Lachnospiraceae, increased.
Conclusion: Including 8% extruded corn DDGS in piglet diets appears safe and beneficial. It supports gut health, improves fat digestibility, and fosters a more diverse gut microbiome—all without compromising growth. These findings support the use of extruded DDGS as a practical alternative to traditional ingredients like corn and soybean meal, offering economic and functional advantages in pig nutrition.
Zhang Z, Zhang G, He X, Sun Z, Zhao J, Liu L, Zhang G. Effects of extruded corn distillers dried grains with solubles on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut health, and microbiota diversity in weaned piglets. Journal of Animal Science. 2025; 103: skaf120. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf120
