Feed Analysis Methods

No

Element

Method description

1

Dry matter (ISO 712) LOD -0.1%

A known weight of sample is placed in an oven at a temperature of 103 degrees Celsius for a given length of time.

After cooling it is re-weighed and the loss of weight is the moisture content of the sample.

Dry matter is the calculated from the lost moisture.

2

Total ash (ISO 2171) LOD -0.2%

The sample is ashed in a muffle furnace at 525+/-25 degrees C. After combustion, the remaining material is weighed and classed as the ash content of the sample.

3

Fiber (ISO 6865)

LOD -0.1%

The sample is treated with boiling solutions of sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide, under controlled conditions. The residue is separated by filtration, washed, dried, weighed and ashed. The loss of weight resulting from ashing corresponds to the fiber present in the

sample.

4

Protein (Dumas Combustion using CN Analyzer)

LOD -0.01%)

The gaseous combustion products N2, NOx, H2O, SO2, O2 and CO2 are carried by the helium as carrier gas through a column filled with copper oxide and from there to a Cu- column where nitrogen oxides are reduced to elementary nitrogen, and O2 to CuO. The Total Nitrogen results is converted to protein using a conversion factor to get total protein.

5

Carbohydrates LOD-0.1%

100-(Total ash+Total protein+Total fat+10)

6

Fat (Gafta 3) LOD-0.1%

The oil or fat in the sample is removed by dissolving it in boiling petroleum ether. The petroleum ether is distilled off and the extracted fat /oil is dried and weighed. This portion is referred to as the ether extractable material. the total fat /oil is in the residue remaining after ether extraction is hydrolysed using hydrochloric acid. After filtration, washing and drying this residue is re extracted with petroleum ether. The petroleum ether is distilled off and the extracted fat /oil is dried and weighed. This value is added to the ether extractable

material value to give the total fat /oil.

7

Energy (Calculated) LOD-0.1%

calculated

8

Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, Mo, Fe,

Cu, B, Zn, P, S, Co (AOAC Method 985.01)

Microwave Digestion :-Nitric Acid & Hydrochloric Acid followed by determination on Atomic Emission spectrometry ( ICP-OES)

A representative sample previously dried at 60 degrees Celsius to constant weight is extracted and/or dissolved in concentrated nitric acid-Hydrochloric acid using microwave energy on the laboratory microwave unit. The sample and acids are placed in a fluorocarbon polymer (PFA or TFM) microwave vessel or vessel liner. The vessel is sealed and heated in

the microwave unit for a specified period of time. After cooling, the vessel contents are diluted to volume and analyzed using ICP-OES.