Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar 243 122, India
*Reprint request: Dr. A.V. Elangovan, National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore-560 030, India, Tel: +91–80–25711304; Fax: +91–80–25711420; E-mail: elangocari@rediffmail.com
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the apparent metabolisable energy – nitrogen corrected (AMEn) of pearl millet simultaneously in chicken, guinea fowl and quails. Pearl millet was tested at two substitution levels (20 & 40% of test diets) on 6 replicated birds (one for each chicken and guinea fowl) or groups (of 2 quails) for each species in each diet in metabolic cages/layer cages with individual feeding and excreta collection facility. The duration of each experiment included an adjustment period of 12 days followed by a collection period (recording of feed intake and excretal output) of 3 days. The estimated metabolizable energy (AMEn) values for pearl millet were 2845, 2800 and 2715 kcal/kg in chickens, guinea fowls and quails respectively. The DM metabolisability, classical apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and AMEn did not differ due to species, however, gross energy metabolisability was significantly higher (P<0.05) in guinea fowls.
Metabolisable energy, Pearl millet, Chickens, Guinea Fowls, Quails
