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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

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References

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