Effect of Autoclave, Microwave Radiation and Their Combination on the Metabolic Energy and Nutrient Digestibility of Wheat Screening Waste in Broilers

This study investigated the effect of autoclaving and microwave radiation on the chemical composition, metabolic energy, and nutrient digestibility of wheat screening waste. Autoclave treatment involved heating the waste at 120 °C for 45 minutes, while microwave treatment utilized 1000 watts for 5 minutes. The experimental treatments included untreated waste, autoclaved waste, microwaved waste, and autoclaved followed by microwaved waste. Both heat treatments resulted in a decrease in gross energy, with the microwave treatment exhibiting the most significant effect. Additionally, the microwave treatment and the sequential autoclave followed by microwave treatment led to a slight reduction in dry matter content. Autoclaving improved the metabolisable energy of the waste by 23.4%, while the combined autoclave and microwave treatment improved it by 9.7%. However, microwave processing alone reduced the metabolisable energy by 25.4%. The heat treatments also resulted in notable changes in the waste’s chemical composition, including decreased crude protein, gross energy, and sugar content, as well as increased dry matter, crude fiber, acid-insoluble ash, calcium, and phosphorus.