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Investigation of indigestible markers in dogs
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 November 2017
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Digestibility trials enable researchers to determine the amount of nutrients an animal absorbs and utilises from feed. There are a number of methods available, with the most common being the measurement of total feed intake and total collection of faeces. However, in situations where it is not practical to conduct a total collection trial, indigestible markers are used in conjunction with grab-sampling or sub-sampling techniques. To date, the most common marker used in dog studies has been chromium oxide (Cr2O3; Hill et al., 1996), with little data available on the suitability of other markers such as titanium dioxide (TiO2). A major problem in using Cr2O3 as an indigestible marker is poor repeatability and agreement between laboratories in the determination of Cr2O3. This has led to variable results due to incomplete and inconsistent recovery in excreta (Sales and Janssens, 2003). However work on other species comparing the use of TiO2 and Cr2O3, has demonstrated that TiO2 was a more accurate marker (Jagger et al., 1992). This study was performed to determine the digestibility of two diets, a low (LN) and a high nutrient (HN) diet using TiO2 or Cr2O3 as indigestible markers. The two different quality diets were used to investigate if digestibility affected marker recovery.
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- Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2009
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