Use of n-alkanes for estimation of voluntary intake and digestibility in donkeys (Equus asinus)

Castel?n-Ortega, O A; Estrada-Flores, J G; Smith, Dave; Colunga, G B; Solis_Mendezl, A; Aviles_Nova, F; Ramirez, A; Garcial, I

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate if the n-alkanes (C32) technique can be used to determine voluntary dry matter intake (DMI) and dry matter digestibility (DMD) in grazing donkeys. Two experiments were carried out; in trial 1 DMI and DMD were measured using n-alkanes in four caged donkeys. In trial 2, n-alkanes were used to predict DMI and DMD in six donkeys grazing a star grass sward (Cynodon nlemfl uensis). Results from both experiments suggest that the n-alkanes technique can be used to predict DMI and DMD with similar results than those obtained with other more sophisticated or expensive techniques

Citation

Castelǭn-Ortega, O. A., Estrada-Flores, J. G., Smith, D., Colunga, G. B., Solis_Mendezl, A., Aviles_Nova, F., Ramirez, A., & Garcial, I. (2007). Use of n-alkanes for estimation of voluntary intake and digestibility in donkeys (Equus asinus). Journal of animal and feed sciences, 16, 307-312

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2007
• Deposit Date: May 15, 2015
• Print ISSN: 1230-1388
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Pages: 307-312
• Keywords: Donkey; dry matter; digestibility
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/8142