Effect of ileal sub-section and the method of collection of digesta on the determination of apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in broilers

This study investigated the effect of the site of digestive sampling (terminal ileum vs. entire ileum) and the method of digesta collection (flushing vs. squeezing) on the determination of ileal amino acid (AA) digestibility in broilers. An experimental diet was formulated based on soybean meal and dextrose. The diet was fed to broiler chickens from 14 to 18 days of age. Twenty four replicate pens (twelve birds each) were given access to the experimental diet. Ileal contents were collected after euthanizing the birds by cervical dislocation at 18 days of age. Digesta were collected from the terminal (last 15 cm of the distal ileum) or entire ileum using either by flushing or squeezing with saline solution. The section from which the digesta were collected did not have a significant impact on the AA digestibility coefficients. However, values were higher (P<0.01) when based on digesta samples that were collected via flushing than digesta collected via squeezing. The results suggest that flushing procedure to determine AA digestibility is a more accurate procedure than squeezing the digesta from ileum. However, the digestive section (terminal or entire ileum) of collection of digesta did not affect the CAID of AA in broilers.