Feed analysis Sample Bank

NorFor has created a feed sample bank from research projects and trials. This collection of feed samples include the chemical analysis results from a number of scientific trials. The samples can be used by feed laboratories in order to calibrate equipment. 

Historically, the focus was to collect samples analysed on indigestible neutral detergent fibre (iNDF), for calibrating analytical instruments at laboratories. There are also results on neutral detergent fibre (NDF), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and crude protein (CP).

In total, there are 665 samples, 35% of the samples originate from Denmark, less than 5% from Iceland, 15% from Norway and 45% from Sweden. All samples come from different scientific experiments from Aarhus university (AU), Norwegian University of Life Science (NMBU) and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The samples consist of monocultures of grasses, legumes, cereal whole crops, maize whole crops, straw or mixed ley (mixtures of grasses and legumes).

All samples have been analysed on iNDF (range 21 to 437 g iNDF per kg DM), more than 90% of the samples also have values on NDF (220 to 775 g/kg DM), 50% have CP (33 to 290 g/kg DM) and 47% have OMD (56 to 84%). Reference method for iNDF is in situ for 288 hours (NorFor, 2011). For analysing NDF, the so called Merten’s method has been used, where the sample has been treated with amylase and the result of the NDF is ash-free (ISO 16472:2006 IDT). Results on OMD in vivo is either measured in vivo in sheep, or estimated with different in vitro methods such as IVOS, EFOS or VOS (NorFor, 2011).

The samples are available for laboratories that for example seek to create or validate calibrations. If you are interested, please Contact Us.