Nutritive value of triticale fed to cockerels and chicks

1. The chemical composition, and amino acid and starch bioavailabilities of 18 triticale varieties were studied. In addition, the water soluble pentosan (WSP) content of 8 varieties was determined. 2. A wide variation in protein (149 to 203 g/kg DM), starch (563 to 629 g/kg DM) and WSP (27.7 to 50.9 g/kg DM) was found between varieties. 3. The TMEn reproductibility was assessed in two laboratories, using Leghorn cockerels, Isabrown cockerels and 3-week-old chicks. There were no significant differences in the TMEn values (range 14.0 to 15.2 MJ/kg DM) between the two types of cockerel. The TMEn values of the varieties were similar for chicks (range 13.6 to 14.9 MJ/kg DM) and for cockerels, with the exception of one variety. 4. The bioavailability of starch (range 96.5 to 99.4%) of some varieties was higher for cockerels than for chicks. The mean bioavailability of amino acids for cockerels was 94.5%. 5. TMEn prediction equations were derived from the chemical composition of the varieties. Best-fit equations were obtained for starch (R2 = 0.62, RSD = 0.24), ash (R2 = 0.58, RSD = 0.25) and WSP (R2 = 0.52, RSD = 0.27).