29/01/2016: Pangasius diet trials show promise of DDGS

In the quest to find suitable, cost effective, alternative ingredients to use in aquaculture feeds, results from a recent study conducted by the US Grains Council have shown that corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is an economical and excellent source of energy and digestible nutrients in pangasius diets, the Global Aquaculture Advocate reports. 

 

Image: Vince Smith

The aquaculture industry in Vietnam is growing rapidly and the production of Pangasius hypophthalmus, also known as swai or tra — the predominant species of fresh water fish produced in the Mekong River — accounts for more than 1 million metric tons (MMT) produced annually. Vietnam is the third-largest fish exporter in the world, and most of the pangasius produced is exported to many different countries. However, high quality, nutrient dense, economical feed ingredients are needed to reduce cost and enable this rapidly growing industry to remain globally competitive.

Corn and corn co-products are economical and excellent dietary energy sources for various aquaculture species, but naturally contain xanthophylls (yellow pigment), which often causes concerns about adding these ingredients at relatively high dietary inclusion rates to diets for some fish species because of the potential “yellowing” of fillets. Achieving a desirable “white” fillet color is essential for meeting consumer preferences and to maintain these important export markets.

DDGS, co-product of ethanol
Corn DDGS is a co-product of ethanol production in the US, is produced in large quantities (> 35 MMT), and is used as an economical source of energy, digestible protein and amino acids, and digestible phosphorus in feeds for cattle, swine, poultry, and some aquaculture diets around the world. In 2015, about 12 MMT of DDGS were exported for use in various animal feeds. While the use of DDGS in aquaculture diets has been limited, its use has been increasing rapidly but it is still an unfamiliar feed ingredient for much of the global aquaculture industry. One of the major reasons for the limited use of DDGS until now is that a limited number of research studies have been published to evaluate DDGS use in various aquaculture diets.

Read the full article HERE.

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