Calculation of the metabolizable energy of diets with wheat bran for rats
1989
Zuleta, A. | Sambucetti, M.E.
Four groups of rats were fed with diets containing 0, 5, 12, and 19g Net Dietary Fiber per 100g diet (NDF%) supplied as wheat bran. Apparent digestibility (D) of the energetic nutrients and the metabolizable energy (ME) of the diets were determined by balance method. Diet ME values were then compared as calculated applying calorie conversion factors (Atwater's general factors including NDF or excluding NDF; Merrill and Watt's specific factors and the experimental factors obtained in this study). Results indicated that D decreased for each nutrient when NDF increased in the diet in the order: protein greater than energy greater than fat greater than carbohydrate. The best approach to calculate the ME of diets containing up to 12g NDF% was provided by Atwater's general factors excluding dietary fiber content. Thus, the use of specific calorie conversion factors for rat diets seems unnecessary.
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