Influence of methodology on the measurement of ileal endogenous calcium losses in broiler chickens
Muhammad Naveed Anwar, V. Ravindran
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to determine the ileal endogenous calcium (Ca) losses in four-week old male Ross 308 broiler chickens (mean body weight ± SD, 1.66 ± 0.12 kg) using three assay methodologies. Three experimental diets were used: a Ca and phosphorus (P)-free diet and two other diets by substituting (w/w) 200 g/kg dextrose (w/w) with maize gluten meal or dried egg albumen as Ca-free protein sources. Each of the three experimental diets was randomly allocated and fed for three days to six replicate cages (six birds/cage), and ileal digesta were collected to measure the ileal endogenous Ca losses. The feed intake of birds fed diets containing the two protein sources was higher (P < 0.05) than the Ca and P-free diet. Body weight loss was observed in birds on the Ca and P-free diet and maize gluten meal-based diets. Ileal endogenous Ca losses were influenced (P < 0.05) by the assay methodology. Ileal endogenous Ca losses were determined to be 125, 77 and 46 mg/kg dry matter intake in birds fed the Ca and P-free diet, maize gluten meal diet and dried egg albumen diet, respectively. Ileal endogenous P losses were determined in birds fed Ca and P-free and dried egg albumen based diets. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of methodology on ileal endogenous P losses.