The apparent digestibility of energy, nitrogen and fibre and the biological value of protein in low- and high-fibre wheat breads.
Sixteen 15 kg liveweight entire-male pigs were given either a low-fibre (1.21 g/100 g Neutral detergent fibre, NDF) or a high-fibre (6.38 g 100 g, NDF) wheat bread as their sole source of dietary protein, in a conventional 21-day metabolism study. A glucose/oil supplement which was assumed to be completely absorbed was given with the bread to ensure a high ratio of dietary energy to protein, to allow measurement of biological value (BV). The apparent faecal digestibility of gross energy was significantly (p < 0.001) lower (7.4% units) for pigs given the high-fibre bread as was the apparent digestibility of NDF (24% units lower). The apparent faecal digestibility of total nitrogen was also significantly (p < 0.001) lower for the animals fed the high-fibre bread, but there were no significant differences between the breads for the BV of their protein. The overall mean BV for the breads was 46%. The results indicate a significantly lower digestibility of nutrients and gross energy in breads containing appreciable quantities of wheat bran fibre.
Department of Animal Science, Massey University Palmerston North, New Zealand.
M
M
Leenaars
P J
PJ
Moughan
D000818:Animals; D001939:Bread / Q000032:analysis; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004063:Digestion; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D013552:Swine; D014908:Triticum
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009584:Nitrogen