Effects of Dietary Fat Levels on Nutrient Digestibility at Different Sites of Chicken Intestines

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of varying dietary fat levels (3%-10%) on the digestibilities of crude protein, crude fat (CF), nitrogen-free extract and ash at different sites of fistulized chicken intestines. Chickens were fistulized to either the middle part of the jejunum (MJ), the distal end of the jejunum (DJ), the middle part of the ileum, the distal end of the ileum or the distal end of the rectum. Intestinal digesta were collected from each site of intestine, and contents of crude protein, crude fat, nitrogen-free extract and ash were measured. The true digestibility of crude protein in intestinal digesta at MJ in the 10% CF group was significantly lower than that in other groups. The digestibility of crude fat in intestinal digesta at MJ in the 10% CF group was also significantly lower than that in other groups. The digestibility of nitrogen-free extract at MJ and DJ in the 10% CF group was significantly lower than that in other groups. There were no significant differences in digestibility of ash among groups. These results clearly demonstrate that dietary fat levels influence the digestibility of protein, fat, and carbohydrate at MJ in chicken.