Effect of age of growing turkeys on nutrient digestibility and energy value of cereal-soybean-based diets

Abstract

Ileal and total tract digestibility of protein, total tract digestibility of fat and AME_N of cereal-based diets were assayed in growing turkeys at four, seven and 12 weeks of age. Fat digestibility and AME_N improved linearly with age. Total tract protein digestibility improved with age according to a curvilinear trend, while ileal protein digestibility improved from 4 – 7 weeks of age but decreased from 7 – 12 weeks of age. It can be concluded that higher AME_N values could be applied when formulating diets for older than for younger turkeys. Regarding protein digestibility more investigation is needed but a possible fall in values after the first weeks of age may be expected.

Keywords:

• Turkeys
• age
• digestibility