View source for Feed Intake: Appendix A: Standard Operating Procedure Nottingham

Dry Matter Determination of Feed and Faecal Samples.

== Equipment required: ==

# Oven set at 80°C
# Foil trays (ensure they are a suitable size for the sample you have)
# Balance (PAT tested)
# Lab coat and gloves
# Heatproof safety gloves

== Method: ==

# Zero balance.
# Weigh empty foil tray and record the weight.
# Add your sample to the foil tray DO NOT zero the balance before adding your sample.
# Record the weight of sample + foil.
# For faecal samples a single tray is used for each sample and feed samples are usually dried in triplicate. This is dependent on the amount of sample you have.
# Dry at 80°C for 5-7 days until samples are completely dry.
# To check the dryness of samples, foil and sample should be weighed twice over two consecutive days. If the weight drops again (&gt;0.3g) then they should be weighed a third time.
# To calculate dry matter work out the pre and post drying sample weights by subtracting the weight of the foil tray from the weight of sample + foil.
# Then Dry Matter = post sample weight/pre sample weight.
# Multiply this value by 100 to get DM% and by a 1000 to get DM g/kg.
# An average DM value can be calculated for samples run in duplicate or triplicate. If replicate values differ by &gt;5%, repeat the determination.

== Training: ==

Users should be supervised by a trained individual when first carrying out the procedure.