Comparative apparent metabolisable energy values of high, medium and low tannin varieties of sorghum in cockerel, guinea fowl and quail

• Published in: British poultry science 2006-06, Vol.47 (3), p.336-341
• Main Authors: Mandal, A.B, Tyagi, P.K, Elangovan, A.V, Kaur, S, Johri, A.K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; cockerels; energy content; Energy Metabolism - drug effects; excretion; feed composition; feed grains; feed intake; feed rations; Feeding Behavior; feeds; Galliformes - growth & development; grain sorghum; guineafowl; metabolizable energy; poultry feeding; quails; Sorghum - chemistry; Species Specificity; tannins; Tannins - analysis; Tannins - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0007-1668; 1466-1799
• DOI: 10.1080/00071660600741875

1. Nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy values (AME(N)) of three varieties of sorghum (white-low tannin, brown-medium tannin and red-high tannin) were measured in three species of poultry (cockerel, guinea fowl and Japanese quail) by a practical diet replacement (total collection) method. 2. Each variety of sorghum was tested at two concentrations (200 and 400 g/kg of reference diet) in 6 replications with one cockerel or guinea fowl or two quails per replication. The duration of the trial included a 10 d preliminary feeding period (on conventional grower diet) followed by a 12 d adaptation period (on reference and test diets) and a 3 d balance period (with recording of feed intake and excreta output). 3. The calculated AME(N) values of different sorghum varieties were: white-12.9, 12.8 and 12.7; brown-12.7, 12.3 and 12.6; and red-11.4, 11.1 and 11.6 MJ/kg for cockerels, guinea fowls and quails, respectively. The mean AME(N) value of red sorghum (11.3 MJ/kg) was significantly lower than those of brown (12.5 MJ/kg) or white sorghum (12.8 MJ/kg). A negative correlation was observed between tannin concentration and AME(N). 4. There was no significant difference in the AME(N) values of white, brown and red sorghum varieties to the different poultry species. AME(N) values of sorghum for the cockerel could, therefore, be used in practical feed formulation for guinea fowl and quail.