THE USE OF NEAR-INFRARED REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY TO MEASURE METABOLIZABLE ENERGY IN POULTRY FEED INGREDIENTS

Near infrared reflectance analysis (NIRA) was used to measure AME(n) in poultry feed ingredients. The calibration based on log 1/R showed the best accuracy (SEE: .097 kcal/g) for predicting AME(n) in ingredients. The accuracy for predicting AME(n) using derivatives was lower (SEE: >.130 kcal/g). All the calibrations studied failed to predict well the AME(n) of four ingredients and test diets (flax, full fat soybeans, test-soybean meal, and test-wheat). Although NIRA has a potential for predicting AME(n) in poultry feed ingredients more samples should be added to the calibration set to improve accuracy.