Solar dried sardines of various qualities were analyzed for nutrient content and for nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in sheep. Additionally, key serum enzymes and metabolites were examined to identify potential toxic effects. Dried sardine protein, ether extract and crude ash content ranged from 65 to 39%, 5.7 to 5.1%, and 22 to 51%, respectively, for high to low quality dried sardines. Visual appraisal of the dried sardines did not appear to be very reliable for determining dried sardine quality. Crude protein content was highly correlated (r(2)=0.962) with crude ash content based on the following equation (dry matter basis): crude protein%=86.0 - (0.961xcrude ash%). Therefore, crude ash could be used to estimate crude protein content and dried sardine quality. Digestibility in Omani sheep was determined on diets composed of a composite of dried sardines collected from Al-Batinah region of the Sultanate (the average crude protein content was 51%) and compared to that of a similar diet using soybean meal (also 51% crude protein) as the major protein source. The digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, total carbohydrates, digestible energy and metabolizable energy in diets utilizing dried sardines versus the soybean meal diet were 74 versus 76%, 69 versus 68%, 67 versus 69%, 64 versus 66%, and 52 versus 56%, respectively. Although, protein digestibility was similar, nitrogen balance data suggested that nitrogen in the dried sardine diet was not as efficiently utilized as nitrogen in the soybean meal diet. Key serum enzymes and metabolites did not suggest that dried sardines at 10% of the total dietary intake would cause metabolic disturbances in sheep. The study suggests that solar dried sardines may be effectively used in ruminant diets but may not have the protein by-pass value of commercial, processed fish meals.

中文翻译：

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日晒干沙丁鱼作为反刍动物蛋白质补充剂的营养评价

分析了各种品质的日光干燥沙丁鱼的营养成分以及绵羊的营养消化率和氮平衡。此外，还检查了关键的血清酶和代谢物，以确定潜在的毒性作用。干沙丁鱼蛋白、乙醚提取物和粗灰分含量分别为 65% 至 39%、5.7% 至 5.1% 和 22% 至 51%，对于高质量到低质量的干沙丁鱼。干沙丁鱼的目视评估似乎不是确定干沙丁鱼质量的非常可靠的方法。粗蛋白含量与粗灰分含量高度相关（r(2)=0.962），基于以下方程（干物质基础）：粗蛋白%=86.0 - (0.961x粗灰%)。因此，粗灰分可用于估计粗蛋白含量和干沙丁鱼质量。阿曼绵羊的消化率是在由从苏丹国 Al-Batinah 地区收集的干沙丁鱼复合物组成的饮食中测定的（平均粗蛋白含量为 51%），并与使用豆粕（也是 51% 粗蛋白）的类似饮食进行比较。蛋白质）作为主要蛋白质来源。使用干沙丁鱼的日粮与豆粕日粮的粗蛋白、乙醚提取物、总碳水化合物、可消化能和代谢能的消化率分别为 74 比 76%、69 比 68%、67 比 69%、64 比 66% 和 52分别为 56%。尽管蛋白质消化率相似，但氮平衡数据表明，干沙丁鱼日粮中的氮不如豆粕日粮中的氮有效利用。关键的血清酶和代谢物并未表明占总膳食摄入量 10% 的干沙丁鱼会导致绵羊的代谢紊乱。该研究表明，晒干的沙丁鱼可以有效地用于反刍动物的饮食，但可能没有商业加工鱼粉的蛋白质旁路价值。