Dried Rum Distillery Stillage in Laying Rations

Abstract

Rations with 0 to 30% dried cane molasses stillage, added to a commercial layer feed were compared in two experiments using individually caged White Leghorn hens. Rations were made isonitrogenous by adding fishmeal, but differences in caloric value and content of other specific nutrients, due to stillage and fishmeal substitution, were not compensated. In experiment I, the control, the commercial ration, exceeded the 30% stillage ration (P < .01) in laying frequency (81.0 vs. 58.1%), (P < .05) weight per egg (62.3 vs . 56.5 g), and (P < .01) g of feed per g of egg (2.17 vs. 3.86). The control also exceeded the 20% stillage ration (P < .01) in laying frequency (68.6%), and (P < .05) in feed conversion (3.10). The 5 and 10% stillage rations did not differ significantly from the control. In experiment II, which did not include a zero-stillage ration, the laying frequencies did not differ significantly. Weight per egg was higher (P < .05) with the 15 and 17.5 stillage rations (63.0 and 63.2 g) than with the 20% (59.9 g). Feed conversion was more efficient (P < .05) with the 10% ration (2.58) than with the 20% (3.13). Feed per gram of egg increased by .048 g for each additional 1% of stillage in the ration, making such addition worthless. Treatments did not affect significantly feed intake or liveweight gain. Rations with more than 10% stillage caused progressively more watery and black feces, which stained both hens and eggs. The 30% stillage ration became a sticky mass when exposed to air for several hours. Dried stillage is well tolerated by laying hens, and perhaps with compensation for caloric dilution by addition of fat, it may be used efficiently in layer rations at levels somewhat below 20%.