Metabolisable energy, nitrogen absorbability and feeding value of expeller processed mustard cake for chicks

Synopsis

Four experiments were carried out to compare the nutritional indices of expeller processed mustard cake (MS) with that of groundnut cake (GN). The indices measured were metabolisable energy (ME), nitrogen absorbability and growth rate. The average ME values of MS and GN were 2.19 Mcal/kg (9.16 MJ/kg) and 2.75 Mcal/kg (11.51 MJ/kg) respectively. The apparent nitrogen absorbabilities were 63.3% and 67.5% respectively, when the chicks were fed on assorted sources of protein containing either of the cakes but were 70.8% and 73.7% respectively when these cakes served as the sole source of protein in the diet. Although ME content and nitrogen absorption of MS were lower than GN its feeding value was similar when growth and food conversion were compared.