Evaluation of Effective Energy Values of Six Protein Ingredients Fed to Beagles and Predictive Energy Equations for Protein Feedstuff

Abstract

This study evaluated the nutrition composition, the nutrient digestibility, and the energy value of six protein ingredients used in pet food by the difference method in six beagles within a 7 × 6 incomplete Latin square design. The results showed that the apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy (GE) and organic matter (OM) in beagles fed the fish meal (FM) and corn gluten meal (CGM) diets was higher than for those fed the meat and bone meal (MBM), soybean meal (SBM), mealworm meal (MM), and yeast extract (YE) diets (p < 0.05). The digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and net energy (NE) of the MM diet were greater than the other diets, and MBM was the lowest (p < 0.05). The ME of protein ingredients was positively correlated with organic matter and negatively correlated with the ash content. The NE of protein ingredients was positively correlated with the crude protein content and negatively correlated with the ash content. The study resulted in predictive energy equations for protein ingredients that were more accurate than the NRC's predictive equation of ME when the ash content of the ingredient was more than 30% DM. In conclusion, the nutrient digestibility and energy value of corn gluten meal were similar to those of fish meal and those of soybean meal were similar to yeast extract. All predictive energy equations for six protein feedstuffs had slight differences with measured energy values.

Keywords: dogs; effective energy values; metabolizable energy; net energy; pet food; predictive equations; protein.

Figure 1

Correlation coefficients between chemical characteristics and energy utilization of seven ingredients in beagles. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01 (following Pearson’s correlation analysis). GE = gross energy; DE = digestible energy; ME = metabolizable energy; NE = net energy; OM = organic matter; CP = crude protein; EE = ether extract; CHO = carbohydrate; CF = crude fiber.