The daily intake and the apparent digestibility of macro and microminerals were determined in bitches fed either a control diet (R0) or the same diet but containing 10% (R10) or 20% (R20) of a mixture composed of citrus pulp and dehydrated alfalfa leaf. The apparent digestibility was estimated as being the amount of a mineral element ingested minus the amount of the element quantified in the feces. Once the dietary fiber intake increased, the intake of dry matter (in g/kgLW) reduced and the Ca, P, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe and Cu apparent digestibility increased. Exception was the Mn digestibility reduction as the fiber intake increased. Only the K digestibility was not influenced by the diet fiber level.
canine nutrition; dietary fiber; micro and macrominerals
