Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T21:43:15.958Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Administration in suspension-form of n-alkane external markers for dry matter intake and diet selection studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. P. Marais
Affiliation:
Cedara Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X9059, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 3200
D. L. Figenschou
Affiliation:
Cedara Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X9059, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 3200
P. L. Escott-Watson
Affiliation:
Cedara Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X9059, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 3200
L. N. Webber
Affiliation:
University of Fort Hare, Private Bag XI314, Alice, South Africa, 5700

Summary

Milled grass particles were coated with n-alkanes and suspended in a xanthan gum solution. Experiments snowed that grass particles could be coated uniformly with alkanes by means of a rotary evaporator. Further experiments showed that the grass particles, in stable xanthan gum suspension, could be accurately dispensed. The coefficients of variation of the alkane content per dose delivered by means of a dosing gun and syringe were 2·6 and 2·3%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the concentration of faecal alkanes derived from alkanes dosed in suspension-form and alkanes placed directly into the rumen.

Type
Animals
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Dove, H. & Mayes, R. W. (1991). The use of plant wax alkanes as marker substances in studies of the nutrition of herbivores: a review. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 42, 913952.Google Scholar
Dove, H., Freer, M. & Foot, J. Z. (1988). Alkane capsules for measuring pasture intake. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society of Australia 13, 131.Google Scholar
Mayes, R. W., Lamb, C. S. & Colgrove, P. M. (1986). The use of dosed and herbage n-alkanes as markers for the determination of herbage intake. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 107, 161170.Google Scholar
Vulich, S. A., O'riordan, E. G. & Hanrahan, J. P. (1991). Use of n-alkanes for the estimation of herbage intake in sheep: accuracy and precision of the estimates. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 116, 319323.CrossRefGoogle Scholar