Comparison of metabolisable energy values of different foodstuffs determined in ostriches and poultry

1. Apparent (AME(n)) and true (TMEn) metabolisable energy values, corrected for nitrogen retention, of wheat bran, saltbush (Atriplex nummularia), com mon reed (Phragmites australis), lupins, soyabean oil cake meal (SBOCM), su nflower oil cake meal (SFOCM) and fishmeal were compared in 7 successive tr ials using 12 mature South African Black ostriches and 10 adult Australorp cockerels per ingredient. 2. TRMEn values of 11.91, 7.09, 8.67, 14.61, 13.44, 10.79 ansi 15.13 MJ/kg for wheat bran, saltbush, common reed, lupins, SBOCM, SFOCM and fishmeal, r espectively, were found for ostriches in comparison to lower (P<0.05) value s of 8.55, 4.50, 2.79, 9.40, 9.04, 8.89 and 13.95 MJ/kg for cockerels. 3. The higher (P<0.05) ME values for ostriches confirm that the ostrich is capable of digesting foodstuffs, especially those with high fibre concentra tions such as drought-resistant fodders, more effectively than poultry. Pla nt protein sources could make a considerable energy contribution to diets f or ostriches. 4. It is concluded that it is essential to use energy values of foodstuffs determined using ostriches and not extrapolated values derived from poultry in diet formulation for ostriches.