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.
What is digestibility and why is it important?
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 makes a food highly digestible?
Digestibility is largely determined by the source and quality of ingredients, as well as processing and amount fed. Meat, eggs and dairy products are highly digestible, whereas cereal grains are more poorly digestible unless cooked and extruded.
Is high digestibility good?
High digestibility values are normally desirable as it means that animals are able to obtain large amounts of nutrients from the herbage being fed. It is now accepted that digestibility is a major factor affecting intake. Animals usually eat more of a highly digestible feed.
Why is digestibility important for animals?
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.
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