PSXIII-28 Inclusion of Soybean Hulls in Extruded Diets for Adult Cats: Effects on Apparent Total Tract Macronutrient Digestibility Fecal Quality and Fermentative End-Product Concentrations.

摘要

Soybean hulls (SBH), a co-product of the soybean oil extraction process, is an accessible and economical fiber source. However, limited research is available on SBH in feline nutrition. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of SBH inclusion on apparent total tract (ATT) macronutrient digestibility, fecal quality, and fermentative end-products in diets of cats. Four diets were formulated with either no fiber (NF), SBH, beet pulp (BP), or cellulose (CL). The fiber treatments were formulated to achieve approximately 15% total dietary fiber (TDF). Eight adult male cats were used in a replicated 4x4 Latin square design. Each period consisted of 14 d, with 10 d of diet adaptation followed by 4 d of total fecal collections. Food was offered twice daily. As-is fecal output did not differ in cats fed BP or SBH and fecal output on a DMB did not differ among all fiber treatments. The ATT digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, and gross energy were greater (P < 0.05) in cats fed NF when compared to those fed BP, CL, or SBH. Cats fed CL had the greatest ATT CP digestibility (88.5%), followed by cats fed NF (84.9%) and SBH (81.7%) and lowest (77%) for cats fed BP diet. Acid hydrolyzed fat digestibility was greater for cats fed CL (92.9%) than cats fed BP (86.9%) and SBH (88.6%). The TDF ATT digestibility was lowest in cats fed NF and CL (8.5 and 15.1%, respectively), followed by SBH (18.0%) and BP (33.7%). Total short-chain fatty acid concentration was greatest in cats fed BP (699.7 μmole/g) when compared to the other three treatments. In conclusion, high inclusion of SBH resulted in similar ATT macronutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics when compared to BP and CL and is a suitable fiber source in feline diets.