Indirect estimation of the digestible energy in the diets of swine by post-mortem analyses of digesta

In order to develop a method to estimate dietary quality in free-ranging wild and feral swine, a digestibility trail was conducted with domestic pigs fed at two energy levels to determine whether caloric and elemantal analyses of digesta could be used to predict digestible energy. Digesta from the stomachs and rectums of freshly slaughtered pigs were analyzed for gross energy, ash, and 13 elements. Digestible energy was estimated by three methods: (1) in the live animal trial, using the chromic oxide indicator technique (DE); (2) post-mortem, using gross energy in stomach contents and the 13 elements and indicators (DE'); and (3) using elemental rations in stomach contents and feces as independent variables in regression equations.