Digestibility of organic matter and digestible energy in single ingredients of extruded dog feeds and their effects on faecal dry matter concentration and consistency

Two basal diets and blends of these with one of 34 single ingredients were fed to groups of four Beagles for 21 days. The consistency of faeces was scored on the last 4 days of each period and the faecal dry matter was determined. The digestibility of organic matter and energy in the diets was determined by use of chromium sesquioxide as marker. No close correlation was found between the consistency and dry matter concentration of the faecal samples. Although the influences of individual feed ingredients on the faecal consistency and on faecal dry matter were obvious, these could not be explained by the digestibility of the organic matter or by the concentration of digestible energy in these feeds.