Evaluation of methanol‐grown bacteria as a source of protein and energy for young chicks

1. The inclusion of 100 or 200 g/kg spray‐dried methanol‐grown bacteria in unpelleted semi‐purified diets reduced growth rate and efficiency of food conversion of young chicks over a 14 d period.

2. Classical metabolisable energy values for the spray‐dried product, at relatively low inclusion rates, ranged from 9.55 to 10.92 MJ/kg dry‐matter (DM) and nitrogen‐corrected values ranged from 8.95 to 10.16 MJ/kg DM.

3. Inclusion of 96 g/kg flash‐dried methanol‐grown bacteria in unpelleted semi‐purified diets marginally increased growth rates, efficiency of food conversion and nitrogen utilisation of chicks, but higher inclusions of up to 290 g/kg caused adverse effects.