NUTRITIVE-VALUE OF TRITICALE FED TO COCKERELS AND CHICKS

1. The chemical composition, and amino acid and starch bioavailabiliti es of 18 triticale varieties were studied. In addition, the water solu ble pentosan (WSP) content of 8 varieties was determined. 2. A wide va riation in protein (149 to 203 g/kg DM), starch (563 to 629 g/kg DM) a nd WSP (27.7 to 50.9 g/kg DM) was found between varieties. 3. The TMEn reproductibility was assessed in two laboratories, using Leghorn cock erels, Isabrown cockerels and 3-week-old chicks. There were no signifi cant differences in the TMEn values (range 14.0 to 15.2 MJ/kg DM) betw een the two types of cockerel. The TMEn values of the varieties were s imilar for chicks (range 13.6 to 14.9 MJ/kg DM) and for cockerels, wit h the exception of one variety. 4. The bioavailability of starch (rang e 96.5 to 99.4%) of some varieties was higher for cockerels than for c hicks. The mean bioavailability of amino acids for cockerels was 94.5% . 5. TMEn prediction equations were derived from the chemical composit ion of the varieties. Best-fit equations were obtained for starch (R(2 )=0.62, RSD = 0.24), ash (R(2) = 0.58, RSD = 0.25) and WSP (R(2) = 0.5 2, RSD = 0.27).