Apparent metabolizable energy concentration and ileal amino acid digestibility in cereal grains fed to broiler chickens.

Objective: This study aimed to determine apparent metabolizable energy concentrations and ileal amino acid (AA) digestibility in cereal grains and to compare those metabolizable energy values between the total collection and index methods for 21-day-old broilers.

Methods: On day 17 post-hatch, a total of 336 Ross 308 male broilers were assigned to 6 dietary treatments with 8 replicate cages (7 birds/cage). Five experimental diets were formulated to incorporate non-extruded corn, extruded corn, wheat, wheat flour, and barley as the sole source of AA and energy.

Results: Retention of dry matter and nitrogen, and energy concentrations in cereal grains determined by the total collection method were greater (p<0.05) than those determined by the index method. Energy concentrations of non-extruded and extruded corn were greater (p<0.05) than those of wheat, wheat flour, and barley. Wheat flour exhibited greater (p<0.05) ileal AA digestibility than non-extruded and extruded corn. Extruded corn and wheat showed comparable ileal AA digestibility values, whereas barley had the lowest among cereal grains.

Conclusion: Energy concentrations of cereal grains determined by the total collection method were greater than those determined by the index method. Energy concentrations of non-extruded and extruded corn were greater compared to wheat, wheat flour, and barley, irrespective of the method used. The ileal AA digestibility in wheat flour was the greatest, followed by non-extruded corn, extruded corn, wheat, and barley in broilers.