Evaluation of low-ash poultry meal as a protein source in canine foods1

Abstract

Eight mature female dogs (18.0 +/- 0.2 kg) were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square experiment to determine the feeding value of low-ash poultry meal (PM) in a complete food fed to dogs. All foods contained graded concentrations of PM (10.4 to 32.5% DM), resulting in foods that were 10, 15, 20, and 25% CP. Daily DMI averaged 284 +/- 14 g/d. An increase in PM resulted in an increase in fecal moisture from 44.7 to 55.1% (linear; P < 0.01), and fecal DM output increased from 24.8 to 31.6 g/d (linear; P < 0.05). Ileal DM flow increased from 27.1 to 40.7 g/d (linear; P < 0.01). Small intestinal DM digestibility decreased from 90.4 to 86.1% (linear; P < 0.01) and total-tract DM digestibility decreased from 91.2 to 89.4% (linear; P < 0.01) as PM increased. Large intestinal DM digestibility increased from 8.4 to 21.1% with increasing PM (linear; P < 0.05). Fecal excretion of CP increased from 5.6 to 10.0 g/d (linear; P < 0.01) and ileal flow of CP increased from 6.9 to 15.6 g/d (linear; P < 0.01) as PM increased. Small intestinal CP digestibility was unaffected with treatment (P > 0.05). Large intestinal CP digestibility increased from 21.6 to 37.1% (linear; P < 0.05) with increasing PM. Total-tract CP digestibility increased from 81.0 to 86.6% (linear; P < 0.01) as PM increased. Arginine had the highest overall digestibility ranging from 88.5 to 91.3%, whereas cysteine had the lowest digestibility, ranging from 67.1 to 71.4%. These data indicate that PM is a highly digestible protein source for canine foods with inclusions of 10.4 to 32.5% of DM.

Influence of dietary protein content and source on fecal quality, electrolyte concentrations, and osmolarity, and digestibility in dogs differing in body size1

“…Therefore, greater protein digestibility was observed for the HP diets, resulting in greater fecal scores and moisture. This was in agreement with the results of Yamka et al (2003), who reported the total tract apparent digestibility of PM diets in dogs fed increasing concentrations of dietary CP.…”

“…Nevertheless, it has been shown that, even if the ratio between endogenous N loss and protein intake decreases, it remains greater with decreased protein intake in pigs and dogs (Yamka et al, 2003). Additionally, microbial metabolism in the hindgut, protein hydrolysis, and de novo synthesis will lead to major changes in fecal protein content (Yamka et al, 2003). Therefore, greater protein digestibility was observed for the HP diets, resulting in greater fecal scores and moisture.…”

“…It is also known that increasing dietary protein intake results in an increase in endogenous N loss. Nevertheless, it has been shown that, even if the ratio between endogenous N loss and protein intake decreases, it remains greater with decreased protein intake in pigs and dogs (Yamka et al, 2003). Additionally, microbial metabolism in the hindgut, protein hydrolysis, and de novo synthesis will lead to major changes in fecal protein content (Yamka et al, 2003).…”

Protein and amino acid bioavailability estimates for canine foods

“…The latter is explained by the increased large intestinal N fermentation as seen in diets with a higher aFD N . Yamka et al (2003) showed an increased large intestinal digestibility with increasing IN N in dogs fed low-ash poultry meal as a protein source. As increased large intestinal fermentation occurs with increasing IN N , sID N is lower at the same aFD N .…”

“…Although 5 other studies were found to report apparent ileal CP and AA digestibility values in adult dogs, their data were not used in the present study. Zuo et al (1996) did not report the DM content of the diets and Hill et al (2001), Yamka et al (2003Yamka et al ( , 2005, and Johnson et al (1998) investigated the digestibility of diets containing only a single protein source. A simulation model was developed, using the various relationships derived, to estimate sID of N, EAA, and NEAA for 10 diets varying in CP content and apparent aFD N for an adult dog of 20 kg BW.…”