The study investigated how gut microflora affects starch utilization in chickens, focusing on two types of tropical tubers (A-type and B-type) and their digestibility.
A-type starches (from Manihot and Dioscorea species) were found to be nearly completely digested (95%) compared to B-type starches (40-60% digested from other Dioscorea and Canna species).
The presence of microflora had varying effects: with A-type starches, it reduced feed intake and growth, while B-type starches led to poor growth due to lower digestibility and energy availability.