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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #132749
Title: EFFECT OF SOIL ADDITION TO FECES ON ACID DETERGENT INSOLUBLE ASH

Author
item Appeddu, Lisa
item BODINE, TIM - OKLA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2002
Publication Date: 7/1/2002
Citation: APPEDDU, L.A., BODINE, T.N. EFFECT OF SOIL ADDITION TO FECES ON ACID DETERGENT INSOLUBLE ASH. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE. 2002. v. 53. p. 337-340.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract Only.

Technical Abstract: Acid detergent insoluble ash (ADIA) is the inorganic fraction found after conducting an ADF. It has the potential to be used as an internal marker to estimate digestibility in forage-fed animals, but may be affected by non-plant inorganic components. The objective of this research was to determine how level and type of soil addition can affect fecal ash, ADF, and ADIA content. Four soils commonly found in the Southern Great Plains [Clay (C), Clay Loam (CL), Sand (S), and Sandy Loam (SL)] were sieved (2.38 mm) and added to 200 g wet feces at 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40% of the estimated dry weight. Feces were taken from four, hay-fed steers. Mixed samples were oven-dried and ground (2 mm) before laboratory analysis. Feces without added soil had 18 ± 1.4% ash, 38 ± 1.2% ADF (OM basis), and 12 ± 1.5% ADIA. Average soil ash was 97%. Fecal ash increased 1.2% for each 1% addition of soil (R2 = 0.96). An interaction between added soil level and type was detected (P < .001) for ADF and ADIA measures. While fecal ADF content (OM basis) was not affected by C, it increased when 40% CL was added (P < 0.01) or by adding more than 30% SL and S (P < 0.02). Not correcting for ash increased (P < 0.01) fecal ADF as compared to ADF expressed on an ash-free basis. Percent ADIA increased (P < 0.03) when more than 10% C, 10% CL, 5% S, or 15% SL was added to feces. Sand inflated ADIA content the most (P < 0.01). Because ADIA content may be increased by soil ingestion and contamination, monitoring pasture soil type and validating ADIA levels may prevent artificially high digestibility estimates when using ADIA as an internal marker.