Nutrient digestibility of processed animal proteins in broilers

Abstract

Processed Animal Proteins (PAPs) have long been banned from farm animal diets in the EU. In this period, raw material selection and processes to prepare PAPs have been improved and diversified allowing for a range of products available for inclusion in animal diets. As a consequence, the products and their respective specifications in present feedstuff tables do not cover the composition and quality of presently available PAPs. This report presents the methods and results of a study, conducted by Wageningen Livestock Research at the request of European Fat Processors and Renderers Association (EFPRA), in which the total tract digestibility of proximate components and ileal phosphorus, calcium and amino acid digestibility of 2 PAPs of pig origin in broiler chickens were evaluated. The results from this study showed that the chemical composition of the new PAPs are broadly similar to the 'former' PAPs, but that the AME and the digestibility of crude fat, crude protein and amino acids of the new PAPs was lower. Therefore it is recommended, once the ban on the use of animal proteins in broiler diets ends, to update the present PAP table figures for broilers.