Nutritional and economic benefits of using DDGS (distiller' dried grains soluble) as feed ingredient in common carp semi-intensive pond culture

A survey was conducted to evaluate the suitability and profitability of corn DDGS (distiller' dried grains soluble) as a protein source in feed for common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in semi-intensive pond production. Six ponds of 0.17 ha were stocked with 70 pc 2+ and 1050 pc 1+ old carp with average weight 362 +/- 10 g and 45 +/- 1 g, respectively, and fed with two types of feed in triplicates. Fish were kept on natural pond food supplemented periodically with wheat grains in the first part of feeding season in order to minimize nutrition costs. When the sampling harvest result indicated that growth rates were slowing down wheat was replaced with formulated feeds (control and experimental diets) as external food source till end of experiment. The experimental feed contained 40 % DDGS substituting the plant ingredients of the control feed. Growth, nutrient utilization, health, flesh quality of the fish was compared at the end of rearing season and finally the economic performance of the diets was investigated. Significantly better performance of experimental group was found in most of the production parameters (final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate) at juvenile age and in feed conversion rate (1.56 vs 1.78 g/g), protein efficiency ratio (2.32 vs 2.08 g/g), gross yield (3520 vs 3020 kg/ha) of the ponds. Economic advantage of high DDGS inclusion in carp feeds was demonstrated by significantly improved perhectare profit and benefit-cost ratio. These are attributed to higher yields, better feed conversion and lower cost of novel feed formulation. Health and flesh quality of the fish were not affected by the diet composition. It was concluded that combining the use DDGS-based compound feeds with maximal exploitation of pond food results in better production, nutrient utilisation and economic performance than traditional cereal-based semiintensive carp farming.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the use of corn DDGS as a protein source in carp feed in semi-intensive pond production. Results showed that increasing the amount of DDGS in the feed could significantly improve carp growth, nutrient utilization, and economic performance.