Grants and Contracts Details
Description
A previous project developed an in vitro method of assessing the digestibility of equine
feeds. This method utilizes the Daisy II incubation system (ANKOM Tech). The Daisy II
is a temperature controlled cabinet that contains 4, 2-liter incubation vessels. The Daisy II
was developed for use with rumen fluid as the inoculum, but we have utilized equine
feces successfully in the system. Once the inoculum is prepared (a combination of feces
and buffer), each incubation vessel is filled with the inoculum. Up to 24 nylon bags
containing approximated 0.5 g of test feeds are added to the incubation vessels and the
vessels are placed in the incubator for the assigned times. Jars can be removed
individually so that each jar can be incubated for an individual time (4,8, 12,24 h, etc).
After the incubation period is completed the bags are removed from the vessels, rinsed
and then analyzed for dry matter, NDF and ADF disappearance. The previous study
showed good agreement between in vitro values and digestibility values obtained in vivo
using total fecal collection.
This method can now be used to compare feeds or to evaluate new feeds. One area of
interest is the effect of various feed additives on feed digestibility. This project will
investigate the effects of additives designed to affect feed digestibility on the dry matter,
NDF and ADF disappearance of a standard concentrate feed and a high fiber feed. Two
sets of experiments will be conducted. In the first set of experiments the feed additives
will be incorporated directly into the feeds that are included in the nylon bags and two
different types of feeds will be used. In the second set of experiments the feed additives
will be incorporated into the fecal inoculum.
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 6/1/06 → 6/30/07 |
Funding
- Cooperative Research Farms: $13,824.00
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