Determination of amino acid digestibility using caecectomised and intact adult cockerels

Four subsamples of meat and bone meal (MBM) were heated (150 degrees C) for 0, 1.5, 3 and 5 h and then incorporated into four individual diets (100 g MBM/kg diet). The diets were precision-fed to 10 caecectomised and 10 intact adult cockerels. The apparent amino acid digestibility (ApAAD) and true amino acid digestibility (TAAD) of the diets were determined by analysis of the excreta. The digestibility coefficients measured using caecectomised birds were lower than those determined with intact birds. Coefficients of digestibility were statistically examined by analysis of variance for the effects of bird type (caecectomised or intact), type of calculation (apparent or true) and diet (heat-treatment) with and without accommodation for individual bird variability. If individual bird variability was not considered in the analysis the bird type X diet interactions (P less than 0.01) included glutamic acid, tyrosine and serine. When individual bird variability was included in the analysis, significant (P less than 0.01) bird type X diet interactions occurred for aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, leucine, tyrosine and lysine and the precision of the data was markedly improved. Amino acid digestibility using the precision-feeding procedure is affected by the selection of either intact or caecectomised birds.     

Ileal amino acid digestibility assay for the growing meat chicken--comparison of ileal and excreta amino acid digestibility in the chicken

1. The apparent and true amino acid digestibilities in sorghum, wheat, soyabean meal, meat-and-bone meal, fish meal and blood meal for growing meat chickens were determined using an assay based on the collection of digesta from the terminal ileum and comparison was made with digestibility values determined using an excreta-based assay. 2. Five-week-old meat chickens were given maize-soyabean meal basal diet or mixtures of the basal diet and test diets containing the 6 ingredients as the sole source of dietary protein (50:50 on weight basis). Apparent amino acid digestibility values of assay diets at ileal and excreta levels were calculated using chromic oxide as the indigestible marker. True digestibility values were calculated using endogenous outputs determined by feeding a protein-free diet. Amino acid digestibilities of the ingredients were calculated by difference. 3. The site of measurement had no influence on endogenous amino acid output, the exceptions being aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The output of these two amino acids was higher in the excreta. 4. Significant differences were found between ileal and excreta-based digestibility of certain amino acids in some ingredients, with excreta values being usually higher than the ileal values, indicating a net catabolism of amino acids in the large intestine. The degree of net amino acid disappearance was found to be variable among amino acids and ingredients. In general, threonine had the lowest digestibility at the ileal level and, compared with other amino acids, the highest degredation during passage through the hindgut. 5. The results showed that digestibility determination based on excreta collection will overestimate the uptake for some amino acids in some feeds. The degree of overestimation was often considerable, ranging from 8.9% (apparent digestibility of threonine in soyabean meal) to 56% (apparent digestibility of aspartic acid in wheat). It is concluded that digestibility values measured at the terminal ileum provide a more reliable measure of amino acid availability than those measured in the excreta.     

Standardized ileal protein and amino acid digestibility by growing pigs and sows

Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of the physiological condition of swine on standardized ileal digestibility coefficients (SID). The apparent ileal digestibility coefficients were determined for crude protein and amino acids in six feed ingredients (corn, barley, wheat, soybean meal, canola meal, and meat and bone meal) in growing pigs and in gestating and lactating sows. Growing pigs and lactating sows were given free access to their diets, whereas gestating sows were allowed to consume only 2 kg of feed daily. The nonspecific (basal) endogenous losses of protein and amino acids were determined under similar feeding regimens after feeding a protein-free diet. The SID for crude protein and amino acids were calculated by correcting the apparent ileal digestibility coefficients for the nonspecific endogenous losses of protein and amino acids. With a few exceptions, there were no differences (P > 0.05) in the SID for crude protein and amino acids between growing pigs and lactating sows. Overall, gestating sows had higher (P < 0.05) SID for crude protein and all amino acids, except for tryptophan and aspartate, compared with growing pigs. Likewise, the SID of most amino acids obtained by gestating sows were higher (P < 0.05) than those obtained by lactating sows. Interactions (P < 0.05) between animals and diets were observed for gestating sows compared with growing pigs as well as gestating sows compared with lactating sows. As a consequence, it is not possible to extrapolate data from one feed ingredient to another. On most occasions, the lowest SID among the indispensable amino acids was calculated for threonine, valine, and lysine. It is concluded that gestating sows fed 2 kg of feed per day have higher standardized digestibility coefficients than do growing pigs and lactating sows given free access to their diets. This difference may be due to differences in daily feed intake rather than to the physiological status of the animals.     

True ileal amino acid digestibility and endogenous ileal amino acid losses in growing pigs fed wheat shorts- or casein-based diets

Use of dietary AA in growing pigs reflects digestion and use of digested AA for various body functions. Before evaluating dietary effects on use of digestible AA intake for body protein deposition, a digestibility study was conducted to investigate true ileal AA digestibility and endogenous ileal AA losses in growing pigs fed graded levels of wheat shorts (WS) or casein (CS; control). A casein-based basal diet (basal) was formulated to contain 0.27 g of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys per MJ of DE, to which extra Lys was added from WS (WS2, +0.10 g of SID Lys per MJ of DE; WS3, +0.20 g of SID Lys per MJ of DE) or casein (CS3, +0.20 g of SID Lys per MJ of DE). A fifth diet was formulated to be similar in CP level and source as CS3 but in which 6% pectin, a source of soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), was included at the expense of cornstarch (CS3 + pectin). Five Yorkshire barrows (17.5 +/- 1.5 kg of BW) were fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum and randomly assigned to 1 of the 5 experimental diets in a 5 x 5 Latin Square design. Apparent ileal digestibility (AID), true ileal digestibility (TID), and endogenous ileal protein losses (EPL) were determined using the homoarginine method. Diet CS level did not influence (P > or = 0.10) TID of most essential AA or EPL (10.4 g/kg of DM intake). Including pectin in the diet did not influence TID of AA (P > or = 0.10) but increased EPL (15.6 g/kg of DM intake; P > or = 0.01). Inclusion of WS in the diet reduced TID of most essential AA (P < 0.01). The TID values for most essential AA, however, were the same (P > or = 0.10) for both dietary WS levels, except for Lys and Met, which were further reduced at the greatest dietary WS level. Increased EPL (P < 0.01) was only observed for WS3 (16 g/kg of DMI). We concluded that (1) the effects of dietary protein source on AID of AA can be attributed both to reduced TID of AA and increased EPL, (2) the impact of dietary WS level on TID of AA and EPL does not seem to be linear, (3) soluble NSP from pectin or WS exerts a greater effect on EPL than insoluble NSP, and (4) because of the metabolic cost associated with EPL and the impacts of feed composition on microbial fermentation in the gut lumen, the effects of feed ingredients on the use of ileal digestible AA for protein deposition should be investigated further.     

Influence of caecectomy and dietary protein concentration on apparent excreta amino acid digestibility in adult cockerels

1. The influence of caecectomy and dietary crude protein content (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 g/kg diet) on the apparent excreta amino acid digestibilities in adult cockerels fed on semi‐purified diets containing soyabean meal (SBM) or cottonseed meal (CSM) as the sole source of protein was investigated.

2. Caecectomy had no influence on the apparent digestibilities of most amino acids in SBM, the exceptions being histidine, arginine and lysine, but lowered the apparent digestibility of amino acids in CSM.

3. The protein content in assay diets has a strong influence on the apparent amino acid digestibility values for poultry. Apparent values are lower when the dietary protein content is low.

4. The use of a single endogenous amino acid output value, generated by regression analysis or protein‐free diets, for true digestibility adjustments across a wide range of protein intakes is questioned. In particular, such an application will penalise estimates of apparent digestibility when the dietary protein content is high.     

Influence of age on the apparent ileal amino acid digestibility of feed ingredients for broiler chickens

The apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in 8 feed ingredients was determined using 14-, 28- and 42-d-old male broiler chickens. The ingredients included three cereals (wheat, sorghum and maize), one cereal by-product (mill run), three oilseed meals (canola, cottonseed and soybean meals) and one animal protein meal (meat and bone meal). Dietary crude protein in the assay diets was supplied solely by the test ingredient. All diets contained 20 g/kg acid-insoluble ash as an indigestible marker, and each diet was offered ad libitum in mash form to 5 replicate pens from 11 to 14 d, 25 to 28 d and 39 to 42 d post-hatching. There were 12, 6 and 6 birds per pen for the 14, 28 and 42 d samplings, respectively. The results suggest that the age of broilers significantly influenced the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids. The effects, however, varied among amino acids and ingredients. In wheat, the digestibility of most amino acids was higher in 14- than in 28- and 42-d-old broilers. In maize, the digestibility coefficients of amino acids were higher at 28 and 42 d than at 14 d. The digestibility coefficients in maize and wheat at 28 and 42 d were similar. The digestibility of amino acids in sorghum at 42 d was higher than those at 28 d, but similar to those at 14 d except for histidine, lysine, serine and glycine, which were significantly higher at 42 d. Digestibility of amino acids in sorghum was similar between 14 and 28 d except for isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid and alanine. The digestibility of amino acids in mill run at 42 d was significantly higher than those at 14 and 28 d. There were no differences in digestibility between 14 and 28 d. In general, the digestibility of amino acids in canola meal, soybean meal and, meat and bone meal was higher at 28 and 42 d compared to those at 14 d, and similar between 28 and 42 d of age. In cottonseed meal, age had no effect on the digestibility coefficient of amino acids, except for lysine and arginine, which increased with age. Analysis of the combined results for the 8 feed ingredients showed that, in general, the digestibility coefficients of amino acids increased with advancing age of broiler chickens.     

饲料回肠末端氨基酸消化率测定方法的研究

畜禽饲料回肠消化率是一项评评价饲料营养价值更有效的指标，和以配制日粮，更符合畜禽对营养物质的需要，饲料因种类，来源及加工处理不同，回肠消化率也表现出差异；同时饲料回肠消化率又受动物年龄，性别、生长阶段及生产目的影响。     

Nitrogen balance and ileal amino acid digestibility in growing pigs fed diets reduced in protein concentration

Two studies were conducted to assess the effect of dietary protein reduction on N utilization, N excretion, and AA digestibility in growing pigs. The objective was to determine whether pigs fed diets with a reduced CP concentration could maintain the same N retention as pigs fed an adequate diet. The second objective was to test whether reducing dietary CP concentration decreases AA digestibility. In each study, six barrows were allotted to one of six dietary treatments in a Latin square design. Treatments consisted of four corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 15, 12, 9, and 6% CP, a casein-based diet containing 15% CP, and a protein-free diet. Crystalline AA were included in the 12, 9, and 6% CP diets. The indispensable:dispensable AA ratio was maintained at 45:55 with the addition of L-glutamic acid to the 9 and 6% CP diets. The casein-based and protein-free diets were used to determine endogenous total tract N and ileal AA losses. In the first study, total N losses and N absorbed decreased linearly (P < 0.001) as dietary CP concentration decreased from 15 to 6%. Both a linear (P < 0.001) and a quadratic (P < 0.05) decrease in N retention were found with decreasing dietary CP concentration. Nitrogen retained as a percentage of intake and absorbed increased (P < 0.001) as dietary CP concentration was reduced from 15 to 6%. In the second study, six barrows were surgically fitted with a T-cannula at the terminal ileum to determine ileal AA digestibility. For all dispensable and most indispensable AA, apparent and standardized ileal digestibility increased linearly (P 0.01, and for arginine, P < 0.05) as dietary CP concentration decreased. These results indicate that dietary CP concentration can be decreased from 15 to 12% with crystalline AA supplementation to meet an ideal AA profile without adversely affecting N retention, and that decreasing dietary CP concentration from 15 to 6% increases both dispensable and indispensable AA ileal digestibility.     

A comparison of ileal digesta and excreta analysis for the determination of amino acid digestibility in food ingredients for poultry.

1. The apparent ileal and excreta digestibilities of amino acids in 15 samples representing 12 food ingredients were determined using 5-week-old male broiler chickens. The ingredients included 3 samples of cereals (wheat, maize and sorghum), 6 samples of plant protein meals (soyabean meal, cottonseed meal, canola meal and sunflower meal) and 6 samples of animal protein meals (meat meal, meat-and-bone meal, feather meal and fish meal). 2. The test ingredients were incorporated as the sole source of dietary protein in assay diets. Each diet was offered ad libitum to 3 pens (4 birds/pen) from d 35 to d 42 post-hatching. Total collection of excreta was carried out during the last 4 d. All birds were killed on d 42 and the contents of the lower half of the ileum were collected. Apparent ileal and excreta amino acid digestibilities were calculated using acid-insoluble ash as the indigestible marker. 3. The influence of site of measurement was found to vary among food ingredients, among samples within an ingredient and among different amino acids within an ingredient. Ileal amino acid digestibility values were similar in some ingredients, but significantly lower or higher in others than the corresponding excreta values. 4. Average ileal and excreta amino acid digestibilities in sorghum and maize were similar, but significant differences were observed for individual amino acids. In contrast, ileal amino acid digestibility values were higher than the corresponding excreta digestibility values in wheat. 5. The average ileal and excreta digestibilites of amino acids in the 3 soyabean meal samples were similar although small, but significant differences were noted for individual amino acids. Site of measurement had no effect on the digestibility of amino acids in canola meal. Digestibilities of valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, histidine, glutamic acid, alanine and tyrosine in sunflower meal and those of valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, glutamic acid and alanine in cottonseed meal were lower by excreta analysis. 6. Digestibilities in animal protein meals, with the exception of blood meal and fish meal, were consistently higher by excreta analysis. Ileal-excreta differences in individual amino acid digestibilities were more evident in feather meal, meat meal and meat-and-bone meal. 7. Threonine and valine were the indispensable amino acids that were more frequently influenced by the site of measurement. Of the dispensable amino acids, aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid and alanine were the most affected. 8. Differences determined between ileal and excreta digestibilities in the present study clearly demonstrate that amino acid metabolism by hindgut microflora in chickens may be substantial and that digestibilities measured in the terminal ileum are more accurate measures of amino acid availability than those measured in the excreta.     

Determination and prediction of the apparent and standardized ileal amino acid digestibility in cottonseed meals fed to growing pigs

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in cottonseed meals (CSM) and to develop prediction equations for estimating AA digestibility for growing pigs based on the chemical composition and AA content of CSM. 10 CSM were collected from 10 provinces in China. 11 barrows (initial body weight: 34.4 ± 1.9 kg), fitted with an ileal T‐cannula, were allotted to 6 × 11 Youden square with 6 periods and 11 diets. The diets included one N‐free diet and 10 CSM test diets containing 40% CSM as the sole source of AA. The nitrogen‐free diet was used to measure the basal endogenous losses of CP and AA. The AID and SID for crude protein (CP), Lys, Met, Trp, and Thr among the 10 CSM differed (p < 0.05). With R² values exceeding 0.30, significant linear regression equations for CP, Lys, and Thr were obtained. The best fit equations for predicting the AID and SID of Lys were: AID of Lys = 82.94–0.65 neutral detergent fiber, with R² = 0.44, residual standard deviation (RSD) = 4.03 and p = 0.04; and SID of Lys = 135.34–1.01 neutral detergent fiber + 34.27 Thr – 58.06 Trp – 84.93 Met, with R² = 0.90, RSD = 1.42 and p = 0.01. In conclusion, the results of AID, SID and prediction equations could be used to evaluate the digestibility of CSM in growing pigs.     

Effect of amino acid deficiency on precaecal amino acid digestibility in broiler chickens

In this study, we determined whether deficient dietary amino acid (AA) concentrations influence the precaecal (pc) AA digestibility when determined using the regression approach. We mixed two basal diets. Basal diet 1 was deficient in essential AAs, whereas adequate AA concentrations were ensured in basal diet 2 by adding free AAs. Rapeseed cake and full‐fat soya beans as test ingredients were included in the basal diets at levels of 100 and 200, and 150 and 300 g/kg, respectively, at the expense of maize starch. Each diet was tested with six replicates of 10 broiler chickens each. The feed intake of the chickens that were fed diets based on basal diet 2 was similar, whereas the feed intake of the chickens that were fed diets based on basal diet 1 differed considerably. The numerical differences in pc AA digestibility determined with basal diet 1 or 2 ranged from 2.6 percentage points to 20.8 percentage points in rapeseed cake and from 0.5 percentage points to 15.2 percentage points in soya beans. Across all measured AAs, the average differences were 10.1 percentage points and 5.4 percentage points in rapeseed cake and soya beans, respectively. The differences in the estimated pc AA digestibility between the basal diets were probably caused by different basal endogenous AA losses in the digesta between treatments as a consequence of different feed intake. Adequate AA concentrations and test ingredient levels that are specifically adjusted to avoid a negative effect on feed intake are recommended for future studies.     

Effect of dietary protein content on ileal amino acid digestibility, growth performance, and formation of microbial metabolites in ileal and cecal digesta of early-weaned pigs

Diarrhea incidence in weaned pigs may be associated with the concentration of intestinal microbial metabolites (ammonia, amines, and VFA) that are influenced by dietary CP content. Three experiments were conducted to determine effects of a low-protein, AA-supplemented diet on ileal AA digestibility, growth performance, diarrhea incidence, and concentration of microbial metabolites in ileal and cecal digesta of pigs weaned at 14 d of age. In Exp. 1, 8 pigs fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum were assigned in a crossover design to 2 diets containing 24 or 20% CP using wheat, corn, full-fat soybeans, whey powder, fish meal, and blood plasma as the main ingredients. Supplemental AA were added to the diets to meet the AA standards according to the 1998 NRC recommendations. Chromic oxide was used as an indigestible marker. Diets were fed at 2.5 times the ME requirement for maintenance. The reduction of dietary CP decreased (P < 0.05) the apparent ileal digestibility of most AA, except Lys, Met, Thr, Val, and Pro. Dietary CP content did not affect the pH of ileal digesta or ileal concentrations of ammonia N, cadaverine, putrescine, or VFA. In Exp. 2, 8 pigs fitted with a simple T-cannula in the cecum were assigned to 2 diets, similar to Exp. 1. Dietary CP content did not affect the pH of cecal digesta. The reduction in CP content decreased (P < 0.05) cecal ammonia N, acetic acid, isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid, total VFA, and putrescine concentrations by 28 to 39%. In Exp. 3, 32 pigs were assigned to 2 diets, similar to Exp. 1, according to a randomized complete block design. Pigs had free access to feed and water. Dietary CP content did not affect growth performance or fecal consistency scores during the 3-wk study, and diarrhea was not observed. The results of these experiments indicate that lowering the dietary CP content combined with supplementation of AA markedly reduced the production of potentially harmful microbial metabolites in cecal digesta of early-weaned pigs without affecting growth performance.     

Determination of basal ileal endogenous losses and standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in barley fed to growing pigs

Background: Basal ileal endogenous amino acid(AA) losses(IAA_(end)) and standardized ileal digestibility(SID) values of cereal grains, such as barley, are apparently underestimated when determined according to the nitrogen(N)-free method. Regression analysis between the dietary apparent ileal digestible content(c AID) and total crude protein(CP) and AA can be considered as alternative approach to obtain more accurate values for IAA_(end)and SID of AA in cereal grains.Methods: Eight hulled barley genotypes were used, with barley being the only source of CP and AA in the assay diets. The diets contained 95 % as-fed of these eight barley genotypes each, ranging in CP content between 109.1 and 123.8 g/kg dry matter(DM). Nine ileally T-cannulated barrows, average body weight(BW) 30 ± 2 kg, were allotted to a row-column design comprising eight periods with 6 d each and nine pigs. On d 5 and the night of d 6 of every period, ileal digesta were collected for a total of 12 h. The IAA_(end) and the SID were determined by linear regression analysis between c AID and total dietary CP and AA.Results: There exist linear relationships between cA ID and total CP and AA(P 0.001). The IAA_(end) of CP, Lys, Met, Thr and Trp amounted to 35.34, 1.08, 0.25, 1.02 and 0.38 g/kg DM intake(DMI), respectively, which are greater compared to average IAA_(end) determined previously under N-free feeding conditions. The SID of CP, Lys, Met, Thr and Trp was 90,79, 85, 79 and 86 %, respectively, and was greater when compared to tabulated values. Moreover, these SID values were greater than those reported in literature, based on correction of apparent ileal digestibility(AID) of CP and AA for their IAA_(end)values. Summarized, the results of the present regression analysis indicate greater IAA_(end)in barley-based diets compared to those obtained by N-free feeding.Conclusions: For low-protein feed ingredients like barley the regression method may be preferred over correction of AID values for their IAA_(end)determined under N-free feeding conditions, as intercepts and slopes of the linear regression equations between cA ID and total dietary CP and AA provide direct estimates of IAA_(end)and SID of CP and AA in the presence of the assay feed ingredient.     

Graded methionine dietary inclusions influence growth performance and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility coefficients and disappearance rates in broiler chickens

Graded quantities of 1.38,2.76 and 4.14 g/kg L-methionine were included in a control diet formulated to contain 3.07 g/kg digestible methionine.Each of the 4 dietary treatments was offered to 6 replicate cages(initially 8 birds per cage)from 1 to 21 d postehatch.The parameters assessed included growth performance,nutrient utilisation(apparent metabolisable energy[AME],AME:GE ratios,N retention,Ncorrected apparent metabolisable energy[AMEn]),apparent digestibility coefficients and disappearance rates of amino acids in the distal ileum.They also included free amino concentrations in systemic plasma(brachial vein)at 20 d postehatch and in hepatic tissue at 14 and 21 d postehatch.Graded L-methionine inclusions quadratically influenced weight gain(r=0.688;P=0.001)and FCR(r=0.780;P<0.001).It may be deduced from the quadratic regressions that 3.43 g/kg L-methionine supported maximum weight gain of 1,036 g/kg and 3.50 g/kg L-methionine minimum FCR of 1.193,from 1 to 21 d postehatch.The control diet contained specified levels of 3.07 g/kg digestible methionine and 13.0 g/kg digestible lysine.Thus,an inclusion of 3.465 g/kg L-methionine corresponded to a total of 6.535 g/kg methionine or a methionine-to-lysine ratio of 50.3,which is higher than standard recommendations.The implications of this and other outcomes of the present study are reported and discussed.     

An improved method of ileal cannulation of adult cockerels

A procedure is described for implanting simple plastic t-piece cannulae made from 1 ml disposable syringes in the terminal ileum of adult cockerels for routine use in digestibility trials. Problems encountered during and after surgery are discussed. Ten of the 15 birds cannulated survived more than nine months.     

Standardised amino acid digestibility of wheat distillers' dried grains with solubles in force-fed cockerels

1. In recent years, policies encouraging the production of ethanol from maize or wheat have stimulated an increased production of distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for which the nutritional value for poultry is poorly described, especially in the case of wheat DDGS. 2. DDGS samples (19) were obtained from 7 plants in Europe from June to September 2007. Each sample was analysed for chemical composition and 10 representative samples were measured for amino acid (AA) content and their standardised digestibility (SDD) in caecectomised cockerels. Lightness score (L) of each DDGS was also measured. 3. Results indicated a rather stable crude protein content (327 to 392 g/kg DM) but the AA profile was variable between samples. Lysine (LYS) was the most affected AA with contents ranging between 0·83 and 3·01 g/100 g CP. In addition, only 0·76 of total LYS were free if estimated by the fluoro-dinitro-benzene procedure and 0·85 of total LYS were free if estimated by the furosine procedure. 4. The SDD of LYS was also highly variable (-0·04 to 0·71) with the lowest values observed for DDGS samples with a low LYS content in CP; these latter samples had also a high occurrence of Maillard reactions and low L values (<50). Consequently, both LYS content in CP (r = 0·63) and SDD of LYS (r = 0·64) values were positively related with L. 5. Our data indicate that LYS SDD can be accurately predicted from LYS content in CP according to a quadratic (R(2 )= 0·94) or a linear-plateau model (R(2 )= 0·90; breakpoint for 1·9 g/100 g lysine in CP and a 0.63 plateau SDD value).     

Determination of apparent ileal amino acid digestibility in rapeseed meal and cake processed at different temperatures using the direct and difference method with growing pigs.

Studies were conducted with ten barrows, average initial body weight 34.5 +/- 2.1 kg, fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum, to study the accuracy of determination of the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) values of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in rapeseed meal and cake and the effects of processing, using the difference method. Five corn starch-based diets in the studies were formulated to contain 17.7% CP and based on soybean meal, prepress-extraction rapeseed meal, prepress-extraction rapeseed meal plus soybean meal, high-temperature press rapeseed cake plus soybean meal, or low-temperature press rapeseed cake plus soybean meal as the sole source of dietary protein. The design was an incomplete Latin Square involving two three-week periods and five-treatments. It was found that the AID values of CP and most AA determined with the difference or direct method were significantly lower in rapeseed meal or cakes than soybean meal. The AID values of CP and most AA in prepress-extraction rapeseed meal, high-temperature press or low-temperature cakes determined with the difference method were no difference from those in prepress-extraction rapeseed meal determined with the direct method. The AID values of CP and AA in rapeseed meal and cake determined with the difference method were accurate, when the contribution of CP and AA from rapeseed was more than 50%. The AID values of CP and AA (especially lysine) were lower in the high-temperature press rapeseed cake than in the low-temperature press cake or the prepress-extraction meal.     

Factors affecting the variability in ileal amino acid digestibility in corn distillers dried grains with solubles fed to growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to compare the ileal digestibility of AA in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) sourced from different regions (IL, MN, KY), to compare AA digestibility in DDGS and in distillers dried grains (DDG) and to compare AA digestibility in DDGS from ethanol production (DDGS(ethanol)) and DDGS from beverage production (DDGS(beverage)). In Exp. 1, five samples of DDGS(ethanol) were sourced from Minnesota (MN1, MN2), Illinois (IL1, IL2), and from Kentucky (KY). In Exp. 2, six samples of DDGS(ethanol), 1 sample of DDG, and 1 sample of DDGS(beverage) were used to compare values for apparent ileal digestibility and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA between DDGS(ethanol) and DDGS(beverage) and between DDG and DDGS(ethanol). Results of Exp. 1 showed that the SID of Lys in DDGS from MN2 (72.8%) was greater (P < 0.01) than in DDGS from MN1 (66.8%), IL1 (66.8%), and KY (65.8%) but not different from IL2 (70.1%). Except for Leu and Glu, no differences in SID for any of the other AA were observed among the 5 sources of DDGS. In Exp. 2, the SID for Lys in DDGS(beverage) was greater (P < 0.01) than in DDGS(ethanol) (69.3 vs. 64.8%), but for CP and all other AA except His, no differences between the 2 types of DDGS were observed. The SID for most AA in DDG were greater (P < 0.05) than in DDGS(ethanol), which suggests that the AA in the solubles that are added to DDGS may be less digestible than the AA in DDG. In conclusion, results of these experiments confirm that the digestibility of Lys is more variable among sources of DDGS than the digestibility of other AA. However, the SID of AA among DDGS sources within a region can vary as much as among DDGS sources from different regions, and AA in DDGS(beverage) may be as digestible as AA in DDGS(ethanol). The digestibility of AA in DDG is greater than in DDGS, which indicates that AA in the solubles have a lower digestibility than AA in DDG.     

The rat as a model animal for the growing pig in determining ileal amino acid digestibility in soya and milk proteins

The growing pig is an established model animal for humans to determine protein digestibility to the end of the small intestine. An ileal amino acid digestibility assay based on the laboratory rat offers an alternative. True ileal amino acid digestibility in high quality refined protein sources was determined and compared between the laboratory rat and the growing pig. Both species of animals were fed their daily ration in nine separate meals. Ileal digesta were collected at slaughter and chromic oxide was used as an indigestible marker. For several of the amino acids examined, there were no significant (p < 0.05) differences between the two species for true ileal amino acid digestibility, but for aspartic acid, serine, cysteine, methionine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine, significant (p < 0.05) interspecies differences were found. The overall average amino acid digestibility, for all amino acids and all diets, was 95.8% for the pig and 96.1% for the rat. Cysteine digestibility was highly variable between individual animals fed the same diet. The extent of amino acid digestion and absorption appears to be broadly similar across the two species, but some important differences in digestibility were recorded.