Effects of dietary cellulose level on growth performance development of internal organs, energy and nitrogen utilization and lipid contents of growing chicks |
S. Siri, H. Tobioka, I. Tasaki |
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Abstract |
In order to determine the effect of dietary cellulose levels on chick performance, 1-week-old White Leghorn male chicks were fed semi-purified diets containing either 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% cellulose for 3 weeks. All diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. Feed intake and body weight were increased as the cellulose level was increased. Feed conversion was lower in the 5% cellulose diet than in the other diets. Compared to the case of 10% to 20% cellulose diets, relative length (per 100 g body weight) of esophagus, duodenum, small intestine and cecum was longer, and relative weight of esophagus, duodenum and crop was also heavier in the chicks fed the 5% cellulose diet. The other internal organs were not affected by the cellulose level. The retention rates of dry matter and nitrogen were lower in the 5% cellulose group than in the other groups. Concentration of carcass phospholipids was higher in the 5% cellulose group, and that of carcass cholesterol was increased as the cellulose level increased. In conclusion, the dietary cellulose level should be more than 5% to give an adequate chick performance, and no ill effect was found even at 20% level. |
Keywords:
Dietary Cellulose; Chick Growth; Internal Organ; Nitrogen Utilization |
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