Nunes et al., 2005. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 34 (4): 1217-1224

The apparent metabolizable energy (AME), nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable (AME(n)), apparent metabolizability coefficient (AMC) and nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizability coefficient (AMC(n)) of five foodstuffs were determined. The feedstuffs investigated were: hatchery by-product meal (HM), feather meal (FM), poultry viscera meal (PVM) and two meat and bone meal (MBM 1 and MBM 2) of different origin. The values of AME and AME(n) were determined by the total excreta collection method. One hundred and twenty broiler chicks at 21 days old were randomly allotted to six treatments (one basal reference diet and five test diets), with four replications with five birds per experimental unit. The feedstuffs replaced 20% reference diet. The AME values expressed in kcal/kg as-fed basis for foodstuffs HM, FM, PVM, MBM 1 and MBM 2 were: 1.495, 2.774, 2.676, 2.567 and 1.652 and the AME(n) values were: 1.301, 2.758, 2.384, 2.307 and 1.488, respectively. According to AME, AME(n) and gross energy (GE) values, the AMC and AMC(n) were calculated for xHM, FM, PVM, MBM 1 and MBM 2 (8,79%), that showed the respective values of 0.09, 55.49, 69.31, 67.71 and 51.14 for AMC and 52.26, 55.18, 61.75, 60.85 and 46.07 for AMC(n).