Corn, in the form of flour, has been used for centuries to feed swine and poultry. Corn utilization in broilers and pork diets are typically 60% and 50%, respectively. Swine and poultry, being non-ruminants, do not digest fiber well. Two common ingredients used in swine and poultry diets are soybean meal (SBM) and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a co-product of fuel ethanol production. Fiber removal from corn, DDGS and SBM, inside feed mills, makes broilers and hogs grow to full weight faster than before.
A detailed study (pdf) determined the effect of removing fiber from ground corn, DDGS and SBM on broiler live performance. Enhanced diets grow broiler birds to market weight in 40 days, a saving of 2 days when compared with regular diets, which require 42 days. Broilers need lower quantity of enhanced feed (by 2 to 3%) compared to regular feed, to grow to the same weight. Implementation in a 1,000 ton/d feed mill would increase profits by $1.9 to 2.5 million/yr, based on shortening of broiler growth period from 42 days to 40 days. Capital investment required would be $2.3 ethanol. Detailed economics and results (pdf)
Grow-finish pig trials showed that enhanced DDGS had 6 to 7% higher energy content than regular DDGS.