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Soybean hulls as a dietary fiber source for dogs
J T Cole1, G C Fahey, N R Merchen
1Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801-3838, USA.
Journal of Animal Science
|May 18, 1999
Summary
Soybean hulls offer a variable fiber content suitable for dog diets. While inclusion decreased nutrient digestibility, they proved effective as a dietary fiber source, comparable to beet pulp.
Area of Science:
- Animal Nutrition
- Canine Dietetics
- Feed Ingredient Analysis
Background:
- Soybean hulls (SH) are a byproduct with potential as a dietary fiber source in dog food.
- Variability in nutrient composition, including total dietary fiber (TDF) and protein, exists among SH sources.
- Understanding SH's impact on nutrient digestibility is crucial for formulating canine diets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the nutrient composition of SH from various US sources.
- To determine the effects of SH inclusion on the total tract and ileal digestibility of nutrients in dog diets.
- To compare the efficacy of SH as a fiber source against beet pulp in canine diets.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Analysis of nutrient content (TDF, protein, fiber ratio) in SH from nine different US sources.
- Experiment 2: In vivo trial with dogs fed diets containing 0-9% SH to assess total tract digestibility (DM, OM, TDF, GE) and metabolizable energy (ME).
- Experiment 3: Ileal digestibility study comparing SH (6-9%) against beet pulp (7.5%) and a control (0% fiber) in canine diets.
Main Results:
- Significant variation in TDF (63.8-81.2%) and crude protein (9.2-18.7%) was observed among SH sources.
- SH inclusion linearly decreased DM, OM, TDF, and GE total tract digestibilities and calculated ME in dogs.
- No significant differences in ileal nutrient digestibility were found between SH and beet pulp, with both lowering total tract digestibility compared to the control.
Conclusions:
- Soybean hulls exhibit considerable variability in composition, necessitating careful sourcing for dog food formulation.
- While SH inclusion negatively impacts overall nutrient digestibility, it functions effectively as a dietary fiber source.
- Soybean hulls demonstrate comparable efficacy to beet pulp as a supplemental fiber in canine diets.
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