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Use of faecal organisms from sheep for the in vitro determination of digestibility

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

H. M. El Shaer
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of North Wales, Bangor
H. M. Omed
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of North Wales, Bangor
A. G. Chamberlain
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of North Wales, Bangor
R. F. E. Axford
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Soil Science, University College of North Wales, Bangor

Summary

A method is described in which a liquid suspension of sheep faeces is used as an inoculum in the in vitro determination of digestibility of feedingstuffs for ruminants. The modified method was applied to 21 samples of grass, ten of lucerne, and a variety of other food materials. The results correlated closely (r = 0·98) with the in vivo digestibilities, and the relationship between in vitro and in vivo digestibilities was represented by the equation: in vivo digestibility = in vitro digestibility × 1·003.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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References

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