True and apparent metabolizable energy of some feedstuffs determined by roosters

Abstract

Eight experiments were carried out involving 24 roosters, three feedstuffs, six replicates, being in each experimental unit, a rooster. Prior to each experiment the birds were starved for 36 hours to empty their digestive tract. At the beginning of each assay the roosters were individually weighed and then force fed the exact amount of 30 grams of feedingstuff. Force feeding was performed by inserting a tube in to the crop via the oesophagus. After feeding, the birds were returned to their cages. A tray was placed under each cage to collect excreta. At the same time six roosters were kept fasting to take account of metabolic fecal energy and endogenous urinary energy. Exactly 48 h after force feeding, the voided excreta was collected quantitatively and processed in laboratory. The apparent metabolizable energy (AME), N-corrected metabolizable energy (MEn), true metabolizable energy (TME), and N-corrected true metabolizable energy (TMEn) values of the feedingstuffs, in Kcal/g, expressed on air dry basis, were, respectively: algaroba meal, 1.26, 1.46, 1.74 and 1.73; defated rice bran meat, 1.21, 1.37, 2.22 and 2.22; full-fat rice bran meal 2.51; 2.70, 3.09 and 2.79, incubatory waste meal 1.29, 1.37, 1.63 and 1.47; dendê meal 1.40, 1.69, 2.08 and 1.91; guar seed 0.94, 1.29, 1.37 and 1.33; integral cassava meal 2.82, 3.01, 3.34 and 3.27; cassava meal 1.40, 1.76, 2.64 and 2,65; corn gluten meal 3.53, 3.62, 4.33 and 3.95; ground corn 3.04, 3.24, 3.65 and 3.50; fish meal 2.65, 2.22, 2.57 and 2.50; soybean meal 2.08, 2.17, 2.65 and 2.51; high-tannin sorghum grain 2.47, 2.75, 3.04 and 3.02; low-tannin sorghum grain 2.90, 3.10, 3.47 and 3.38 and wheat meal 1.26, 1.50, 2.06 and 1.88. Because of the correction of the metabolic and endogenous losses, the TME and TMEc values were higher than AME and AMEn values.