Influence of gut microflora on the nutritional value of ryegrass-white clover leaf protein concentrate when consumed by chickens

摘要

This project aimed to test whether the gut microflora influenced the nutritional value of ryegrass (Lolium perenneL.)-white clover (Trifolium repensL.) leaf protein concentrate (LPC). The effects of giving a diet containing LPC as the main protein source to chickens was compared to the effects of giving a diet containing heat-treated soybean meal (SBM). Supplementation of the LPC diet with an antibiotic (Neomix#xAE;) gave an improvement in growth and an increase in the mean amino acid digestibility (measured by excreta analysis) of approximately 7. Chickens given the diet containing LPC tended to have a higher level of C19. cyclopropane fatty acid in the excreta than chickens given the SBM diet. This indicated that consumption of the LPC diet influenced the nature and/or activity of the gut microflora, and that gut microflora influenced the nutritional value of LPC.