EFFECT OF STEAM PELLETING AND REGRINDING ON THE DIGESTIBILITY OF PROTEIN IN CEREAL GRAINS, SOYBEAN MEAL AND WHEAT BRAN BY THE RAT

Abstract

The effect if steam pelleting and regrinding on digestibility of protein in corn, wheat, barley, oats, soybean meal and wheat bran was tested with rats. Percentage amino acid absorption and net protein utilization (NPU) were determined for the wheat bran. Pelleting and regrinding improved the digestibility of protein in bran but had no effect on the digestibility of protein in the other ingredients tested. Increased absorption of amino acids caused by the increased digestibility of protein in bran varied considerably for individual amino acids, being greatest for isoleucine, lysine, methionine and threonine of the essential amino acids. The improvement in protein digestibility and amino acid availability was reflected in a higher NPU.