Assessing the potential of using nylon bags in batch analysis of crude fibre and ether extract of livestock feeds

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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
OMICS Group
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the potential of laboratory batch analysis and optimum number of bags to be used. Katambora, veld hay and maize stover were analyzed for Crude Fibre (CF) and Ether Extract (EE) using the proximate analysis procedure but with samples bagged in nylon bags of pore size 60 micron. A completely randomized block design was used with Treatment 1 as the control, Treatment 2 with 1 bagged sample, Treatment 3 with 2 bagged samples, Treatment 4 with 3 bagged samples and Treatment 5 with 4 bagged samples. Results showed that there is a potential to use nylon bags in CF and EE analysis on katambora, veld hay and maize stover. There was an interaction between block and treatment. EE analysis on Katambora showed no significant difference among all treatments but for maize stover and veld hay, treatment 4 and 5 were significantly different from all the other treatments. In CF analysis trial, treatment 2 and 3 did not differ significantly from the control, while treatment 4 and 5 were significantly different from the control for all the diets. It was concluded that there is a potential to do batch analysis with optimum number varying between forage type and component of analysis. The proposed batch analysis is more sensitive with EE than with CF analysis.
Description
Keywords
Crude fibre, Batch analysis, Livestock feeds
Citation
Ncube, S., & Mpofu, I.D.T., (2012). Assessing the potential of using nylon bags in batch analysis of crude fibre and ether extract of livestock deeds. Open Acess Scientific Reports, 321(1). doi:10.4172/scientificreports.321