What is measured in a digestibility trial?
A digestibility trial measures the proportion of food that is not excreted.
What is the benefit of using a marker in faeces?
The use of a marker means that it is not essential to measure all intake or faeces to be able to determine digestibility.
What factors make an ideal marker and list examples of some?
- not digested or metabolised (meaning the are completely recoverable
- safe an inert
- palatable
- able to be mixed evenly through feed
- measurable
What is ideal digestibility?
- digestibility of the feed as determined by the small intestine
- less contribution from bacteria
What are some methods that are used to measure ileal digestibility within pigs?
- Slaughter method
2. Simple canula
How is in Saecco digestibility used for ruminants?
Involves a fistula for sampling with feed placed in a nylon bag that is then recovered after digestion.
How is in in vitro digestibility used?
Feed is placed test tube with rumen liquor for 48 hours. Afterward HCL and pepsin are added. Then it is analysed by NIR.
