2011 -
All corns were ground to a similar particle size in a coffee-type grinder. After tube-feeding, roosters were returned to individual cages and total excreta were collected for 48 hours. The excreta were then freeze-dried, ground, and the corn samples and excreta were analyzed for gross (total) energy and nitrogen. TME was then calculated for each rooster and the results were statistically analyzed using each individual bird as an experimental unit.
True Metabolizable Energy (TMEn) of 3 corn hybrids was determined in cecectomized roosters. The latter roosters have had their twin ceca surgically removed to reduce (almost totally eliminate) the effect of hindgut microflora on energy excretion. These birds provided an accurate assessment of the amount of utilizable or metabolizable energy in the corns at the end of the small intestine. This is important because most the energy released by bacterial fermentation in the ceca is not utilized by the animal.
Twenty-four cecectomized adult roosters were fasted for 26 hours to empty the intestinal tract of all digestive residues from feed previously consumed. Eight roosters were then tube-fed 30 grams of one of the 3 following corn samples.
Conventional control corn
Masters Choice MC 515 corn
Masters Choice MC 535 corn
How Things Panned Out
The gross or total energy of the 3 corns was similar when corrected for dry matter. The TMEn value for the conventional corn was as expected. Although there was no significant difference in TMEn among the 3 corns, the Master’s Choice corns had numerically higher values. These differences were 41-52 kcal/kg. Many commercial feed additive enzymes on the market increase energy by 30-50 kcal/kg. Thus, the increases with the Masters Choice corns are similar to the enzyme responses; these are meaningful increases if repeatable.
2012 -
The following year this study was repeated, also at the University of Illinois. Both corns were ground to a similar particle size in a coffee-type grinder. After tube-feeding, roosters were returned to individual cages and total excreta were collected for 48 hours. The excreta was then freeze-dried, ground, and the corn samples and excreta were analyzed for gross (total) energy and nitrogen. TME was then calculated for each rooster and the results were statistically analyzed using each individual bird as an experimental unit.
True Metabolizable Energy (TMEn) of 2 corn hybrids was determined in cecectomized roosters. The latter roosters have had their twin ceca surgically removed to reduce (almost totally eliminate) the effect of hindgut microflora on energy excretion. These birds provided an accurate assessment of the amount of utilizable or metabolizable energy in the corns at the end of the small intestine. This is important because most the energy released by bacterial fermentation in the ceca is not utilized by the animal.
Thirty two cecectomized adult roosters were fasted for 26 hours to empty the intestinal tract of all digestive residues from feed previously consumed. Sixteen roosters were then tube-fed 30 grams of one of the following corn samples.
Conventional control corn
Masters Choice MC 527 corn
How Things Panned Out
The gross or total energy of the 2 corns was similar when corrected for dry matter. The TMEn value for the conventional corn was as expected. The Masters Choice corn had a higher numerical value. This difference was 30-40 kcal/kg.
After repeating this study in back-to-back years we feel that floury grain shows a clear difference. Demonstrating a difference of 40 kcal/kg or better increases energy at similar levels to commercial feed additive enzymes, giving the floury grain real value.
