Using gross energy improves metabolizable energy predictive equations for pet foods whereas undigested protein and fiber content predict stool quality.

Because animal studies are labor intensive, predictive equations are used extensively for calculating metabolizable energy (ME) concentrations of dog and cat pet foods. The objective of this retrospective review of digestibility studies, which were conducted over a 7-year period and based upon Assoc...

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Main Authors: Jean A Hall, Lynda D Melendez, Dennis E Jewell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3544805?pdf=render
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author Jean A Hall
Lynda D Melendez
Dennis E Jewell
author_facet Jean A Hall
Lynda D Melendez
Dennis E Jewell
author_sort Jean A Hall
collection DOAJ
description Because animal studies are labor intensive, predictive equations are used extensively for calculating metabolizable energy (ME) concentrations of dog and cat pet foods. The objective of this retrospective review of digestibility studies, which were conducted over a 7-year period and based upon Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) feeding protocols, was to compare the accuracy and precision of equations developed from these animal feeding studies to commonly used predictive equations. Feeding studies in dogs and cats (331 and 227 studies, respectively) showed that equations using modified Atwater factors accurately predict ME concentrations in dog and cat pet foods (r²= 0.97 and 0.98, respectively). The National Research Council (NRC) equations also accurately predicted ME concentrations in pet foods (r² = 0.97 for dog and cat foods). For dogs, these equations resulted in an average estimate of ME within 0.16% and 2.24% of the actual ME measured (equations using modified Atwater factors and NRC equations, respectively); for cats these equations resulted in an average estimate of ME within 1.57% and 1.80% of the actual ME measured. However, better predictions of dietary ME in dog and cat pet foods were achieved using equations based on analysis of gross energy (GE) and new factors for moisture, protein, fat and fiber. When this was done there was less than 0.01% difference between the measured ME and the average predicted ME (r² = 0.99 and 1.00 in dogs and cats, respectively) whereas the absolute value of the difference between measured and predicted was reduced by approximately 50% in dogs and 60% in cats. Stool quality, which was measured by stool score, was influenced positively when dietary protein digestibility was high and fiber digestibility was low. In conclusion, using GE improves predictive equations for ME content of dog and cat pet foods. Nondigestible protein and fiber content of diets predicts stool quality.
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spelling doaj.art-2c73246ed29d4771a2677a7260954a142022-12-21T19:19:15ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0181e5440510.1371/journal.pone.0054405Using gross energy improves metabolizable energy predictive equations for pet foods whereas undigested protein and fiber content predict stool quality.Jean A HallLynda D MelendezDennis E JewellBecause animal studies are labor intensive, predictive equations are used extensively for calculating metabolizable energy (ME) concentrations of dog and cat pet foods. The objective of this retrospective review of digestibility studies, which were conducted over a 7-year period and based upon Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) feeding protocols, was to compare the accuracy and precision of equations developed from these animal feeding studies to commonly used predictive equations. Feeding studies in dogs and cats (331 and 227 studies, respectively) showed that equations using modified Atwater factors accurately predict ME concentrations in dog and cat pet foods (r²= 0.97 and 0.98, respectively). The National Research Council (NRC) equations also accurately predicted ME concentrations in pet foods (r² = 0.97 for dog and cat foods). For dogs, these equations resulted in an average estimate of ME within 0.16% and 2.24% of the actual ME measured (equations using modified Atwater factors and NRC equations, respectively); for cats these equations resulted in an average estimate of ME within 1.57% and 1.80% of the actual ME measured. However, better predictions of dietary ME in dog and cat pet foods were achieved using equations based on analysis of gross energy (GE) and new factors for moisture, protein, fat and fiber. When this was done there was less than 0.01% difference between the measured ME and the average predicted ME (r² = 0.99 and 1.00 in dogs and cats, respectively) whereas the absolute value of the difference between measured and predicted was reduced by approximately 50% in dogs and 60% in cats. Stool quality, which was measured by stool score, was influenced positively when dietary protein digestibility was high and fiber digestibility was low. In conclusion, using GE improves predictive equations for ME content of dog and cat pet foods. Nondigestible protein and fiber content of diets predicts stool quality.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3544805?pdf=render
spellingShingle Jean A Hall
Lynda D Melendez
Dennis E Jewell
Using gross energy improves metabolizable energy predictive equations for pet foods whereas undigested protein and fiber content predict stool quality.
PLoS ONE
title Using gross energy improves metabolizable energy predictive equations for pet foods whereas undigested protein and fiber content predict stool quality.
title_full Using gross energy improves metabolizable energy predictive equations for pet foods whereas undigested protein and fiber content predict stool quality.
title_fullStr Using gross energy improves metabolizable energy predictive equations for pet foods whereas undigested protein and fiber content predict stool quality.
title_full_unstemmed Using gross energy improves metabolizable energy predictive equations for pet foods whereas undigested protein and fiber content predict stool quality.
title_short Using gross energy improves metabolizable energy predictive equations for pet foods whereas undigested protein and fiber content predict stool quality.
title_sort using gross energy improves metabolizable energy predictive equations for pet foods whereas undigested protein and fiber content predict stool quality
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3544805?pdf=render
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