This work was conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of whole soybean submitted to different processing. Four trials were conducted to determine digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DCDM), ether extract (DCEE) and amino acids and the values of apparent and true metabolizable energy of the whole deactivated soybean processed by steam heated (WDS) and whole extruded soybean (WES) compared to a mixture of soybean meal plus soybean oil (SMO) and soybean meal plus soybean acid oil (SMAO). The trials one and two were conducted by using the total collection of excreta method with chicks and roosters, respectively. In the trials three and four, the force-feeding method with intact and cecectomized roosters, respectively, were used. The DCDM, DCEE and metabolizable energy determined by using roosters were higher than that determined with chicks. The DCDM, CDEE and metabolizable were higher for SMO, followed by WSE, SMAO and WDS. The DCMS, DCEE and metabolizable energy of WSE were higher than those of WDS. The amino acids digestibility coefficients did not differ for soybeans. The processing of whole soybeans promoted different values in the metabolizable energy of soybeans, which varied also with the bird age.
chick; deactivated soybean; extrusion; heat processing; rooster
