Digestibility is the factor that expresses the potential of an ingredient to be digested, absorbed and processed by the animal's system, whether in terms of nutrients or of energy. It is very important that this coefficient is known when companies that make feed and animal foods are making decisions.
What is the importance of digestibility?
Because a highly digestible food provides a higher proportion of absorbed nutrients like vitamins than a less digestible food, digestibility provides one measure of a food's nutritional value and quality.
What is digestibility in nutrition?
Digestibility refers to the amount of nutrient absorbed by the individual and is generally calculated as the amount of nutrient consumed minus the amount of nutrient retained in the feces.
Why is it necessary to know a digestibility factor for the food being studied?
Because a highly digestible food provides a higher proportion of absorbed nutrients than a less digestible food, digestibility provides an important measure of a food's nutritional value and quality.
What determines digestibility?
Carbohydrates: The nature and level of dietary carbohydrates affect the digestibility of all nutrients present in the diet. High crude fibre content of mixed diets decreases their digestibility. The higher the percentage of crude fibre in a ration, the lower is the digestibility of dry matter and all other nutrients.
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