Quantitative estimates of disappearances of dry matter, nitrogen and amino acids anterior to the mid-point and terminal ileumof the small intestine were made in pigs prepared with re-entrant cannulas and offered six diets containing wheat alone or supplemented with either meat meal, fish meal, peanut meal, soybean meal or sunflower meal. Apparent digestibilities of dietary dry matter and nitrogen were also estimated by faecal measurements. Disappearance of dry matter and nitrogen was greater anterior to the mid-point than at the end of the small intestine and the rectum. Amounts disappearing at each location and between the three locations differed significantly between protein sources. Up to 10% of dietary dry matter and nitrogen disappeared in the large intestine. For lysine, methionine, threonine and valine, absorption was greater anterior than posterior to the midpoint of the small intestine for all diets except that containing only wheat. Measurements made of the disappearance of amino acids anterior to the large intestine indicated that the apparent availability of the majority of ammo acids of peanut meal, followed by soybean meal, was greater than those of meat meal (52 % crude protein) and fish meal (50 % crude protein).
Digestibility of amino acids in fish meal and blood-derived protein sources fed to pigs
