Trypsin inhibitor,mineral availability,and performance of broiler chickens fed on diets based on rice bran

Trypsin inhibitor in rice bran was inactivated by moist heat, but not by dry heating or treatments with 0.1% H₂SO₄, 0.1% NaOH or 0.1% NaCl. Heating rice bran could not improve its growth promotion value in the diet of broilers, which was related to the feed intake. Groundnut meal was the major protein supplement in the diets. Rice bran diets did not affect weight of pancreas (1.45–1.50 g/kg body weight). Use of ⁴⁵Ca revealed that availability of calcium on a rice bran diet was lower than on a maize-based diet. A similar effect on ⁵⁹Fe-availability was noted, although this result needs confirmation. Lack of differences in weight of thyroid glands and uptake of ¹³¹I by thyroids of birds on maize- and rice bran-based diets indicated the absence of any goitrogenic substance in the rice bran.