The Effect of Cecectomy and Extension of the Collection Period on the True Metabolizable Energy Values of Soybean Meal, Feather Meal, Fish Meal, and Blood Meal

Abstract

Four experiments were conducted in which 30 g of test material were force-fed to both intact and cecectomized adult White Leghorn roosters. The length of the collection periods was as follows: soybean meal (49%), 24, 30, 48, and 60 hr; feather meal, 24 and 30 hr; fish meal, 24, 30, 48, and 60 hr; and blood meal, 24, 30, 48, 60, and 72 hr.There is no significant difference among the true metabolizable energy (TME) values for soybean meal (49%) for the extended collection periods. However, examination of the energy output (kcal/hr) data indicated that approximately 30 hr were required for complete passage of all undigested feed residues. The energy output (kcal/hr) and the TME data for the fish meal experiment are in agreement and indicate that 30 hr was the time required for complete passage. The TME data and the energy output (kcal/hr) data are also in agreement for the blood meal experiment and suggest that 48 hr were required for complete passage. In the feather meal experiment a collection period longer than 24 hr was required. A 48-hr collection period is suggested as a standard collection period for all ingredients force-fed using the “true metabolizable energy” system. Energy output (kcal/hr) is also proposed as an additional criteria for determining the time required for complete passage of an ingredient through the alimentary tract.The TME values for soybean meal (49%) for cecectomized roosters were significantly lower than the values for the intact roosters. When fish meal was force-fed, the TME values for the intact and cecectomized roosters were not significantly different.