Valor nutricional de coprodutos de etanol de milho para suínos : revisão sistemática e ensaio de digestibilidade

Abstract

Corn ethanol has been established as a viable alternative for biofuel production, generating co-products such as dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS), which are widely used in animal nutrition. DDGS contains high levels of protein, lipids, and fiber, although its composition varies depending on the manufacturing process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of corn ethanol co-products in pig feeding through a systematic literature review and a digestibility trial, encompassing bromatological composition, energy values, and amino acid digestibility. The systematic analysis of the literature allowed for the compilation of nutritional data and digestibility from different DDGS sources, highlighting variations in crude protein, fiber, and energy among the grain types used. A total of 201 publications were analyzed, revealing that corn DDGS exhibited higher amino acid digestibility coefficients and metabolizable energy compared to other sources. HPDDGS showed greater crude protein digestibility, whereas HPDDG stood out for its energy values, with 3653 kcal/kg of digestible energy. Experiments were conducted to determine the bromatological composition and the effects of corn ethanol co-products on pigs. Twelve castrated male pigs were fed diets containing different co-products, and digestibility parameters and nitrogen excretion were analyzed. Diets containing DDGS had metabolizable energy values ranging from 3301 to 3511 kcal/kg. Corn solubles showed lower metabolizable energy, with 2429 kcal/kg. Nitrogen intake and excretion were higher in diets containing DDGS, reflecting differences in protein retention and utilization. Blood urea levels were significantly higher in pigs fed DDGS, indicating increased protein catabolism. The inclusion of DDGS in pig diets should consider its nutritional variability to optimize digestibility and energy utilization, ultimately improving feeding efficiency across different production stages.