This study was carried out to observe the nutritive effects of feeding rice diet and rice diet mixed with barley or millet, or both on the growth rate and biological availability of some nutrients by albino rats. The experimental diets were prepared on the basis of isocaloric and isonitrogenous containing 357 kcal of energy and 12g of protein per 1008 of diet. The experimental animals weighing about 66g of both sexes were fed on 7 kinds of diets such as control diet, rice (100%) diet, rice (70%)+barley (30,,0) diet, rice (70%)+millet (306/) diet, rice (70%)+barley (20,,o´)+millet (10%) diet, rice (706)+barley (1511´16)+millet (15o´) diet, and
.; rice (70%)+barley (10%)+millet (20,00) diet for 7 weeks.
The results obtained are summarized as follows;
1. The gain in body weight was higher for barley and/or millet mixed with rice diet groups than rice diet group with no statistical difference.
2. Although there was no difference in the amount of food consumed by experimental j< groups, the food efficiency ratio was slightly higher for the mixed diet groups than rice alone diet group.
3. The protein efficiency ratio was also higher for barley and millet mixed with rice diet groups than rice diet group, although statistical significance was not found.
4. Apparent digestibility of protein of rice diet group was significantly (p X0.01) higher than any other diet group. Although there was no remarkable difference between mixed diet group was found, the apparent digestibility of protein tended to increase when rats were fed on the barley and millet mixed with rice diet. Apparent biological value (p<0.05) and net protein utilization (p<0. 01) were also significantly higher for the groups fed mixed diet with barley and/or millet than rice diet group, and those for millet alone mixed diet were slightly lower.
5. The content of total nitrogen in the liver and of protein in serum were not significantly different among experimental groups.
It may be concluded from the above results that an adequate supplementation of rice with other certeals and mixing ratio of other cereals to rice were important for the efficient utilization of protein in total diet.
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