Reliability of the Chromic Oxide Indicator Method for the Determination of Digestibility with Growing Chickens

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Abstract
The reliability of a simplified method for digestion trials with groups of growing chicks is discussed on the basis of the digestion coefficient of starch. Samples of feces were collected from suitable half areas of the cage floors for 24-hour periods and analyzed, using chromic oxide as an index substance. Not only in the case of restricted feeding, using pullets, but also in the case of ad libitum feeding with starting chicks, the sample thus collected is found to be a representative one. It is necessary to collect excreta containing day and night feces in natural proportions. The largest value of reducible material in urine, calculated as glucose is 107 mg per day per 7-month-old chick with an artificial anus. This is of negligible effect on the measurement of the digestion coefficient. The correlation between feed intake and digestion coefficient is no greater than 0.22. A change in the level of feed intake is not reflected directly in digestibility.