Abstract
This study was conducted to examine the effect of dietary cellulose on growth and nitrogen utilization in chicks fed 65% CP and 80% ME of Japanese Feeding Standard. Body weight gain, feed efficiency, apparent N digestibility, N retention and N retention rate were not influenced by dietary cellulose if the levels were from 0.0% to 3.5%, but started to decrease when dietary cellulose level exceeded 5%. Feed efficiency, apparent N digestibility, N retention and N retention rate were significantly higher in chicks fed 1.5% and 3.5% cellulose diets than in those fed 10% and 20% cellulose diets (P<0.05). Body weight gain in chicks fed 1.5% and 3.5% cellulose diets were significantly larger than that of 20% cellulose group (P<0.05). Retention rate of absorbed N was significantly increased by 1.5% dietary cellulose and the level was maintained in 3.5% cellulose group, then started to decrease when dietary cellulose exceeded 5% level. Retention rates in chicks fed 1.5% and 3.5% cellulose diets were significantly higher than those of 10% and 20% cellulose groups(P<0.05). It is concluded that the highest retention rate of absorbed N is obtained when dietary cellulose levels range from 1.5% to 3.5% in chicks fed 65% CP and 80% ME of requirements, and the same tendency was observed in growth and N utilization.
