Apparent nutrient digestibility and metabolizable energy of selected grains by different types of pheasants was assessed. Wheat, sorghum and maize were fed in mash to four different types (n=72) adult male pheasants e.g., Cheer, Silver, Ring necked and Golden for eight days. Birds from each type (n=18) were replicated (n=9) with 2 birds per replicate in metabolic cages (n=36) for feces collection. Different nutrients and gross energy in grains and feces were measured and digestibility coefficients and apparent metabolizable energy were determined. Dry matter digestibility was maximum for maize (0.801) followed by wheat and sorghum, respectively. Organic matter was significantly more digestible in maize fed cheer pheasants (0.833) to wheat (0.802) and sorghum (0.786). Nitrogen retained in maize fed birds was higher 12.24 and 23.32% to wheat and sorghum, respectively. Fat from wheat was less digestible ranged from 0.668 to 0.687 in different type of pheasants. Digestibility of fibre was higher in Cheer type (0.627) and lower in Ring Necked pheasants (0.60). Higher calcium digestibility (0.528) was noted in maize fed Golden pheasants and lowest for sorghum (0.477) fed Ring Necked pheasants. Digestibility coefficient of phosphorus in maize (0.531) and wheat (0.515) was higher fed to Cheer pheasants. Apparent metabolizable energy of maize was significantly greater (13.4 MJ/kg) compared to wheat and sorghum. It can be deduced that both cereal and pheasant type influence nutrient digestibility and metabolizable energy differently. More accuracy is needed in digestibility values in formulating ration for pheasants from different sources.

Key words: Digestibility coefficients, Metabolizable energy, Nitrogen retention, Pheasants