DIGESTIBILITY AND PALATABILITY OF DIETS WITH PROPOLIS EXTRACT FOR DOGS

Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of propolis extract digestibility and palatability. Two experiments were conducted, the first consisting of a digestibility trial with the inclusion of different propolis extracts (FT0,55, FT0,59, FT2,59, FT2,11). Based on the results of the first test, the extract being used in the other experiments, so the chosen FT0,59 extract was mixed in increasing levels in diets resulting in different apiginin concentrations. the diet was defined. Both digestibility assays beagle dogs 10, which were housed in metabolic cages were used. Palatability was assessed by food preference and first choice, 20 dogs of different breeds being used. In the first digestibility trial, only the inclusion of propolis extract FT2,11 decreased the value of the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter (DM). In the second trial, increasing inclusion of propolis extract FT0,59 linearly improved the ADC of crude protein (CP), ether extract in acid hydrolysis (EEA), nitrogen free extract (NFE), MS and metabolizable energy (ME) of the diets. The inclusion of propolis extract favored the palatability of the diet. Flavonoids can be added in the diet of dogs as nutraceuticals in concentrations lower than 2.11mg/kg of DM of the diet without altering digestibility.