Evaluation of the standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids of rapeseed meals varying in protein solubility for Pekin ducks

This study was conducted to determine whether protein solubility (PS) of rapeseed meals (RSM) can affect standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIDAA) in meat ducks. A total of 1,168, 14-days-old ducks were randomly allotted to 23 treatments (6 cages per diet, 8 ducks per cage) and 1 nitrogen-free diet treatment (8 cages, 8 ducks per cage) based on body weight. The 23 experimental diets consisted of a corn–soybean meal basal diet, and 22 diets containing 15% RSM: 85% basal diet. Titanium dioxide (0.5%) was included in all diets as an indigestible marker. On day 18, all ducks were euthanized by carbon dioxide asphyxiation and digesta samples from the ileum. The contents of PS, ether extract (EE), glucosinolate, isothiocyanate, and oxazolidine were significantly different (P < 0.05) in the 22 RSM, with the CV being 52.62, 49.23, 86.84, 90.19, and 81.98%, respectively. The content of lysine (Lys) and methionine in the 22 RSM samples ranged from 1.03 to 2.71% (CV 24.19%) and from 0.33 to 0.65% (CV 15.17%), respectively. The SIDAA, except for leucine (Leu) and tyrosine, of the 22 RSM samples varied significantly (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed (P < 0.05) between PS and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of Lys, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, histidine, serine, cysteine, and tyrosine. The R(2) value of multiple linear regression equations for predicting the SID of amino acids (AA) was best for Lys (R(2) = 0.958 using dry matter, crude protein, EE, crude fiber, acid detergent fiber, and PS) and least significant for Leu (R(2) = 0.348 using crude fiber and ash) with intermediate values for other AA (R(2) = 0.359–0.837, P < 0.05). These results suggest that PS varying from 15.06 to 98.08%, also varied considerably in the proximate nutrient content, AA composition, and antinutritional factor content, which was reflected in considerable differences in the duck's SID of AA in RSM. Therefore, PS value can partly reflect the quality of RSM.