EFFECTS OF DIETARY CELLULOSE LEVEL ON NUTRIENT UTILIZATION IN CHICKENS

The effects of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% dietary cellulose levels on the nutrient utilization in chickens were investigated. Four experimental diets were alternatively given to 8 colostomized White Leghorn cockerels to make a $4{\times}4$ Latin-square design. The diets of 70 g.day were force-fed once a day, and water was given freely. The digestibilities of DM and energy increased linearly with the increase in dietary cellulose level. The digestibilities of ether extract and nitrogen-free extract were not so much influenced by the dietary cellulose level. The digestibility of acid detergent fiber was very low and not influenced by the dietary cellulose level. The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was not different among the diets containing 5%-15% cellulose, but that of the 20% cellulose diet was diminished. This might be due to the reduction of hemicellulose digestibility. True digestibility and biological value of protein were also not influenced by the dietary cellulose level from 5% to 20%. In conclusion, no ill-effect was found even when the chicken was fed a diet containing 20% of cellulose.