Effects of Dietary Level of Rice Distiller’s Dried Grains on Performance and Meat Quality of Chickens

Background: In Vietnam, animal feed mainly depends on imported raw materials, while available agro-industrial by-products are often released into the environment and only a its unsubstantial portion used as an animal feed. Therefore, efficient use of these by-products as animal feed is essential. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary levels of rice distiller’s dried grain (Rice DDG) on broiler performance, meat yield and meat quality. Methods: The research was conducted at the experimental station, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Vietnam, from May to September 2020. A total of 240 a day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned into 4 groups with 3 replications to receive 4 diets with different levels of RDDG at 0, 5, 8 and 10% for 14 weeks. Growth, meat yield and meat quality were estimated. Result: ADG was higher in broiler chickens fed diets with rice DDG compared to that in control diet at 12 and 14 weeks (P less than 0.05) while ADFI and FCR were not affected by the diets. There were significantly no differences in meat yield and quality among the diets. In conclusion, rice DDG could be used to partially replace main ingredients in chicken diets.