The high quality feedstuffs which are used in poultry feeds are costly and could be used directly for human food. There is less competition for fibrous feedstuffs which are less digestible by humans and other nonruminants. Feedstuffs containing crude and refined dietary fiber were examined for their effects on performance, carcass composition, crude fiber digestibility and anatomical changes of the digestive tract in growing chickens, ducklings, turkey poults and goslings. Crude fiber (CF) from dehydrated alfalfa (DA) fed to broiler chicks at 8.3 to 15% of the ration resulted in significantly reduced body weight (BW), feed consumption (FC) and feed conversion (EF). Refined fiber (RF, Cellulose) at 5 to 20% of the diet of broiler chicks resulted in significantly reduced BW and EF, while FC increased. Bacterial and enzymatic preparations added to broiler chick diets containing up to 20% RF resulted in no significant differences in BW or EF within each RF level. However, FC did not increase as RF increased. RF fed to 4 commercial broiler strain crosses resulted in no significant differences in BW, FC or EF at each level of RF. Percent carcass fat decreased in one strain and increased in all others as RF increased. Dehydrated Kentucky Bluegrass (KBG) or DA based diets fed to goslings resulted in no significant effects on mean BW. DA or KBG at 40% of the diet resulted in significantly increased FC and EF. EF of pelleted diets was better than mash diets. Mean ADF digestibility and mean carcass yields increased as DA or KBG increased in the diet. Microbial preparations (Lactobacillus sp.) fed to goslings in KBG based diets resulted in better gains and a significant improvement in EF. The addition of grit (2%) to control, DA or rye grass roughage diets resulted m no significant differences among the dietary treatments. Digestibility of ADF in chicks, poults and goslings fed diets containing 6% CF (from oat hulls, OH) increased with the level of CF. Ducklings digested no measurable amount of ADF from OH. Mean BW of chicks and ducklings fed the 6% CF diets were less, poults were unaffected, and goslings were more than those fed the control diet (C). Carcass fat pad weights in broilers were reduced, while gizzard weights increased in all species as CF increased. Ceca lengths within species did not vary; small intestines lengths decreased in chicks, ducklings, and poults, but increased in goslings as the level of CF increased in the diet. / Graduation date: 1992

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-127). Also available on the Internet.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University,2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.90-118).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-127). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Anthropology, August 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 88 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 18, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Thesis advisor: Dr. Jeffre D. Firman. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 113 p. : ill. (some col.) Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1987.

published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy