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Soybean Meal Use Alligators

Reigh, R.C. and M. B. Williams
March 2015

Soybean meal use alligators digestibility trials were conducted to determine the amino acid availability of selected ingredients (corn, soybean meal, soy protein concentrate, wheat gluten, and menhaden fish meal) fed to American alligators at inclusion levels of 30% or 45% of the diet. Protein, energy and amino acid digestibilities for the various feed ingredients were determined in two size classes of alligators. Results indicated that American alligators can efficiently digest crude protein and energy in an assortment of plant products of varied chemical composition which could be used as alternatives to animal protein in compounded diets. Availability of dietary essential amino acids was also usually high (often greater than 90%) when these ingredients were provided at levels of 30–45% of the diet.