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Abstract
Shi, S.R., Wang, Z.Y., Yang, H.M., Sheng, D.F. and Lu, J. 2009. Optimization of fasting and excreta collection period in geese for true metabolisable energy assay. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 36: 251–254.
To determine the optimal fasting and excreta collection period for true metabolisable energy (TME) assay in geese, 24 ganders (25 weeks) were equally divided into four groups by the body weight. Three experimental groups were randomly selected and assigned to different fasting periods (24, 32, 40 h) followed by tube feeding of 85 g corn (experiment 1) or 60g alfalfa (experiment 2) and the fourth group (control group, no feed intake with 40 h fasting period) was used to determine the endogenous energy losses. The excreta from all groups were collected at 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 h after tube-feeding. Excreta dry matter (DM), DM digestibility, AME and TME of 85 g corn and 60 g alfalfa were determined in experiment 1 and 2, respectively. Excreta DM collected from 24 h fasting group was higher than that of 40 h fasting group in both experiments (P<0.05). In each fasting period of both experiments, excreta DM increased as collection period increased after tube-feeding, while DM digestibility, AME and TME decreased. It was concluded that the optimal fasting and excreta collection period for TME bioassay should be “24+24h” in geese.