Garbanzo beans (GB; Cicer arietinum) are a readily available pulse crop that have gained popularity as a plant-based protein source in the pet food industry. However, raw GB contain anti-nutritional factors that can reduce digestibility and cause digestive upsets in pets that are undesirable to owners. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the inclusion of raw or cooked GB in extruded feline diets on macronutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal tolerance, and fermentative end-products in cats. Five diets were formulated to contain raw GB at 0%, 7.5%, 15%, or 30% or cooked GB at 30%. Ten adult, male cats (mean age: 1.0 ± 0.0 yr, mean BW: 4.7 ± 0.4 kg) were used in a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square design. Each period consisted of 14 d, with 10 d of diet adaptation followed by 4 d of total fecal and urine collection. At the end of each period, 4 mL of blood were collected and analyzed for a serum chemistry and complete blood count to ensure all animals remained healthy throughout the study. Cats were fed twice daily and food intake was calculated to maintain body weight. Food intake was highest (P < 0.05) for cats fed 0% raw GB (72.2 g/d, dry matter basis [DMB]) compared with GB inclusions of 7.5% or greater (average 70.3 g/d, DMB). Dry matter and organic matter apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) were lowest (P < 0.05) for cats consuming the 30% cooked GB diet (77.3% and 81.7%, respectively). Cats fed 7.5% raw GB had greater (P < 0.05) crude protein ATTD (86.2%) than cats fed 15% raw GB (82.3%) or 30% cooked GB (81.6%). Total short-chain fatty acid concentrations were highest (P < 0.05) for 30% cooked GB at 682 μmol/g but not different (P > 0.05) than 15% GB (528 μmol/g) or 30% raw GB (591 μmol/g) diets. In terms of fecal microbial abundance, the predominant phyla were Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteria. Cats fed the 0% GB diet had a greater relative abundance of Firmicutes (62.1%) and Fusobacteria (4.0%) than the remaining diets (average 54% and 1.6%, respectively). In conclusion, all inclusion levels of raw GB resulted in high digestibility (average > 80%) and ideal fecal scores (average 2.9), demonstrating their adequacy as a protein source in feline diets up to a 30% inclusion level.

中文翻译：

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生鹰嘴豆的分级夹杂物水平对挤压猫科动物饲料中表观总消化道消化率、粪便质量、粪便发酵终产物和微生物群的影响

鹰嘴豆（GB；Cicer arietinum）是一种容易获得的豆类作物，作为植物性蛋白质来源在宠物食品行业中广受欢迎。然而，生GB含有抗营养因子，会降低宠物的消化率并导致宠物消化不良，这是主人所不希望的。本研究的目的是确定在膨化猫科动物饮食中添加生或熟 GB 对猫的常量营养素消化率、胃肠道耐受性和发酵终产物的影响。配制了五种日粮，其中生 GB 含量为 0%、7.5%、15% 或 30%，或熟 GB 含量为 30%。十只成年雄性猫（平均年龄：1.0 ± 0.0 岁，平均体重：4.7 ± 0.4 kg）用于重复的 5 × 5 拉丁方设计。每个阶段包括 14 天，其中 10 天的饮食适应，随后是 4 天的粪便和尿液收集。在每个阶段结束时，收集 4 mL 血液并进行血清化学和全血细胞计数分析，以确保所有动物在整个研究过程中保持健康。每天喂猫两次，并计算食物摄入量以维持体重。与 7.5% 或更高的 GB 含量（平均 70.3 g/d，DMB）相比，喂食 0% 生 GB（72.2 g/d，干物质基础 [DMB]）的猫的食物摄入量最高（P < 0.05）。对于食用 30% 熟 GB 饮食的猫，干物质和有机物表观全消化道消化率 (ATTD) 最低 (P < 0.05)（分别为 77.3% 和 81.7%）。饲喂7.5％生GB的猫比饲喂15％生GB(82.3％)或30％熟GB(81.6％)的猫具有更高(P＜0.05)的粗蛋白ATTD(86.2％)。30% 熟 GB 的总短链脂肪酸浓度最高 (P < 0.05)，为 682 μmol/g，但与 15% GB (528 μmol/g) 或 30% 生 GB 没有差异 (P > 0.05)。 591 μmol/g）饮食。就粪便微生物丰度而言，主要门是厚壁菌门、拟杆菌门和放线菌门。饲喂 0% GB 饮食的猫的厚壁菌门 (62.1%) 和梭杆菌 (4.0%) 相对丰度高于其余饮食（平均分别为 54% 和 1.6%）。总之，所有原始 GB 的添加水平都产生了高消化率（平均> 80%）和理想的粪便评分（平均 2.9），证明了它们作为猫科动物饮食中的蛋白质来源的充分性（添加水平高达 30%）。