ANN 111: Principles of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology (2+1)

ATWATER’S DIGESTIBLE ENERGY VALUE

• Since none of the foodstuff is completely absorbed, some energy is excreted in the faeces and therefore the Gross Energy value of feed stuff does not represent the actual energy require for the body cells. Hence, the following digestibility coefficient of 98% to carbohydrate, 95% to fat and 92% protein are applied to monogastric animals.
• The calorific values of the three nutrients are multiplied by the corresponding digestible coefficients to get the digestible values.

Atwater ’s digestible energy value factors

• 1 g carbohydrate = 4.15 x 0.98 = 4 Kcal
• 1 g fat = 9.40 x 0.95 = 9 Kcal
• 1 g protein = 5.65 x 0.92 = 5.2 Kcal