Low caloric value of carobs as the possible cause of growth depression in chicks

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Abstract
Five trials were conducted to elucidate the cause of the growth‐inhibitory effect of carob meal in chick rations, with special emphasis on estimating its productive energy value. The growth‐depressing factor of carob meal could not be extracted with methanol, ethanol or ethyl acetate. Consecutive extractions with cold and hot water left a residue which did not affect growth. The cold‐water extract had a slight, and the hot water extract a distinct, inhibitory effect on feed consumption, without affecting feed utilisation. This reduced feed intake may be due to the presence of tannin‐like compounds, which seem to affect appetite.Supplementation of diets containing carob with fat resulted in growth similar to that of the control. The data presented indicate that carobs do not contain any toxic factors and that their low caloric value is the major factor responsible for growth depression. The energy value of carobs should be calculated on the basis of their sugar content as the only nutrient available to the chicks.