Energy potential of high-protein sunflower concentrate

The studies were conducted on broiler chickens of the cross “KOBB—500” in the research laboratory of “Feed Additives” and “Animal Nutrition and Feed Quality” of the Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology named after P.D. Pshenychny National University of Life Resources and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. The digestibility of nutrients in high-protein sunflower concentrate was carried out in a simple way, with two modifications: by the direct method and by the method of inert substances. Lignin, a natural component of plant-based feeds, was used as an inert substance. The determination of digestibility in broiler chickens was carried out on 12 broilers aged 32–42 days. The chickens were kept in individual cages. The area per head was 0.2 m2, the feeding front was 15 cm, and the watering was 3 cm. The experiment lasted 10 days. During this period, various methods were employed to assess digestibility in a group of experimental chickens. The physiological experiment consisted of two periods: preparatory and primary. During the preparatory period, which lasted 5 days, the bird was accustomed to consuming the studied feed and new conditions of detention, and the level of feed consumption was established. The digestibility of crude protein was relatively high, at 95 %. Moreover, the discrepancy between the indicators obtained for determining digestibility by the direct method and the method of inert substances was minimal, less than 0,11 %. The same picture was observed for the digestibility of crude fat; the indicator was within 84 %. The discrepancy between the two methods was minimal, 0.4 %. The digestibility of structural carbohydrates was low, which is typical for poultry, especially young birds. The digestibility of crude fiber ranged from 11,8 to 14 %, with a slightly higher difference between the direct and inert matter method determinations – about 3 %. The rather high digestibility coefficient of neutral-detergent fiber – 64.4 – 65.2 % and the low digestibility of acid-detergent acid – 3.9 – 6.2 % indicate that the hemicelluloses of the high-protein sunflower concentrate were digested quite well. In general, the digestibility of organic matter was quite typical for plant-based feed, 78.4 – 78.9 %. The digestibility coefficients of nutrients of the high-protein sunflower concentrate for broiler chickens were established by the direct method: crude protein – 94.9 %; crude fat – 83.7 %; crude fiber – 11.8 %; nitrogen-free extractives – 71.3 %; organic matter – 78.4 %; neutral detergent fiber – 64.4 %; acid detergent fiber – 3.9 %. The total energy value of high-protein sunflower concentrate for broiler chickens is 12.073 – 13.129 MJ/kg.