The determination of nutrient intake and the apparent in vivo and in vitro digestibilities in bitches fed a control ration (R0) or the same control ration containing 10% (R10) or 20% (R20) of a mixture composed of citrus pulp (PC) and alfalfa hay leaft, were the objective of this study. The digestibility was estimated by total feaces collection and by the use of the ash insoluble in acid. When expressed in % of liveweight, the intake of water, dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) were reduced as the fiber levels increased. However, DM, CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and ether extract (EE) digestibilities increased as the fiber levels increased in the diets. The digestibility values estimated by these two methods were different, but not greater than 5 units. The source of fecal inocula resulted in different values for in vitro digestibility, and the inocula of the animals consuming the fiber sources gave the highest results. The citrus pulp was the component which presented the greatest in vitro digestibility whereas the control diet gave the lowest values for in vitro digestibility.
citrus pulp; digestion; dogs; dietary fiber; intestine
