Fibers include non-starch polysaccharides, lignin, and some indigestible oligosaccharides. In the past, fiber was considered an anti-nutritional component of feeds because it resisted the digestion of endogenous enzymes secreted by the animal's small intestine and negatively affected the digestion of energy and nutrients. However, numerous studies have proven that fiber can have a positive impact on livestock and poultry intestinal health, immune regulation, and body metabolism.
Fiber composition is complex, and different fiber compositions and content in feed can significantly affect the nutrient metabolism of livestock and poultry. The amount of fiber content is also used as an important indicator of feed quality, so Lifeasible offers customers fiber testing services to accurately measure fiber content in feeds. This helps you to fully understand the composition, physicochemical properties, and utilization efficiency of feed ingredients and is necessary to assess the nutritional value and merit of feeds.
| Methods |
Testing indicators |
Details |
| Weende method |
Determination of crude fiber content |
Under the action of acid, the sugar, starch, pectin, and hemicellulose in the sample are removed by hydrolysis, and then we treat it with alkali to remove protein and fatty acid. Then we use ether and acetone to remove the ether solubles, and after high temperature scorching to deduct the number of minerals, the remaining amount is crude fiber. |
| Detergent method |
Determination of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) |
We use neutral detergent to remove the fat, starch, protein, and sugar components in the feed, the residual insoluble material is NDF. |
| Determination of acid detergent fiber (ADF) |
The insoluble substance that remains after we remove components such as fat, starch, protein, and sugar from the feed with acid detergent is ADF. |
| Determination of acid detergent lignin (ADL) |
After removing fat, starch, protein, sugar and cellulose, and other components in feed by acid detergent and concentrated acid treatment, the insoluble substance remaining is ADL. |
In addition to our conventional fiber composition determination services, we have developed methods for the determination of dietary fiber in feeds to meet your more comprehensive testing needs.
| Methods |
Test indicators |
Details |
| Enzyme-weight method |
- Total dietary fiber
- Soluble dietary fiber
- Insoluble dietary fiber
|
- The dried sample was digested by enzymatic digestion to remove protein and starch, then precipitated by ethanol, washed with ethanol and acetone, and dried to obtain the total dietary fiber residue.
- The samples were washed with hot water directly without enzymatic digestion and dried to obtain insoluble dietary fiber residue. The filtrate was precipitated with ethanol to obtain soluble dietary fiber residue.
- The total, insoluble and soluble dietary fiber content of the sample was obtained by deducting the protein, ash, and reagent blank content of each residue.
|
| Enzyme weight method-liquid chromatographic method |
- Total dietary fiber
- Resistant maltodextrin
|
Based on the enzyme weight method, we used the high-performance liquid chromatography internal standard method to quantify the low molecular mass ethanol soluble resistant maltodextrins in the samples.
Total dietary fiber = soluble dietary fiber + insoluble dietary fiber + resistant maltodextrin |
| Enzyme-chemical method |
- Total dietary fiber
- Neutral sugar
- Glyoxalate
- Klason lignin
|
The samples were enzymatically removed from the starch and then precipitated with ethanol to obtain the dietary fiber residue, which was hydrolyzed by sulfuric acid and determined by colorimetric method for glucuronic acid, gas chromatography for neutral sugars, and weight method for Klason lignin. |
Livestock nutritionists have begun to use NDF, ADF, and ADL as indicators of dietary energy and intake, especially for ruminant rationing. Therefore Lifeasible offers a service for testing fiber content in forages to estimate the amount of forage digested by animals, total digestible nutrients, and other energy values. It can also be used for hay pricing, assessing relative forage value, forage management, etc. Please feel free to contact our staff to learn how we can help you achieve these goals.
For research use only, not intended for any clinical use.
