13,14,15,17,19 Me

Feed represents more than 70% of the total cost of producing live broilers. In typical broiler feeds, more than 60% of the total cost is used to provide energy. Furthermore, it is generally agreed that broilers eat to satisfy energy requirement, therefore broiler feeds are normally formulated to provide all nutrients according to diet energy content. Therefore, it is critically important to know the energy value of ingredients and feeds as accurately as possible. This article will first briefly describe the energy systems used in poultry production. The importance of accurately knowing the energy content, and reasons why Ajinomoto Thailand has set up a metabolisable energy bioassay laboratory, are explained. The facilities and procedures used in this laboratory will be outlined. Finally, a preview of the assay results obtained so far and its implications for the poultry sector in Asia will be discussed.