Nutrient composition and true metabolizable energy content in broiler finisher diets produced in some animal feed plants

An experiment was conducted to determining chemical composition, true metabolizable energy corrected to zero nitrogen balance (TMEn) of broiler finisher diets and establishment of prediction equation of TMEn value. At first, twelve broiler finisher diet samples were provided from twelve poultry feed plants and subjected to chemical composition analysis by standard laboratory methods. Average values of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, crude fiber, calcium and phosphorus were obtained 91.52, 18.64, 2.71, 6.85, 3.21, 0.80 and 0.36 percent, respectively. Sibbald’s method was used for determination of TMEn values and dry matter metabolizability of feeds using 54 d male Ross -308 broiler chickens. TMEn values showed significant differences among broiler finisher diet samples (P< 0.01). The average value of TMEn in broiler finisher diets was 3234 Kcal/kg and varied from 3012 to 3430 Kcal/kg. Values of TMEn/GE ratio in diet samples varied from 0.65 to 0.74 and showed significant differences (P< 0.01). Average value of dry matter metabolizability was 55.4 percent and showed significant differences among the diets (P< 0.01). The diets which had higher crude fiber content, showed lower dry matter metabolizability. TMEn values of broiler finisher diets showed a significant high negative correlation coefficient with crude ash percent (r=-0.80, P=0.01). Regression analysis showed that TMEn content of broiler finisher diets could be predict from ash, crude protein and phosphorous content of diets with coefficient determination equal to 0.69.