Economics of Growth Production of Indigenous Chicken Fed Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) with or without Supplementation of Exogenous Enzyme

Abstract

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a byproduct of ethanol production process, have been utilized as a potential feed component in the diets of livestock and poultry, as a source of both energy and protein. This study evaluated the effects of feeding DDGS, replacing maize and soybean, with or without exogenous multi-enzyme supplementation on the growth performance and economics of indigenous chickens. A total of 180, 21-day-old indigenous chicks were randomly assigned to six groups (T1–T6) of 30 birds each. Groups T1, T3, and T5 received basal diets containing 0, 10, and 20% DDGS, respectively, while T2, T4, and T6 were fed the same diets supplemented with a multi-enzyme preparation. All birds were reared for 182 days. Results showed that the highest final body weight was observed in the T2 group (1643.93 ± 25.22 g) and the lowest in the T5 group (1580.00 ± 14.50 g), with no significant differences (P>0.05) among groups in regards to total body weight gain, daily gain or feed conversion ratio. Feed cost per kilogram live weight gain was reduced by up to 11% in DDGS-fed groups compared to the control. Overall, inclusion of DDGS up to 20% in indigenous chicken diets, with or without enzyme supplementation, maintained growth performance while improving economic efficiency. It is concluded that DDGS can be included in indigenous chicken diets up to 20% level to reduce production costs and support sustainable backyard poultry farming.