ANN 111: Principles of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology (2+1)

INTRODUCTION

• Dry matter and moisture determination is probably the most frequently performed analysis in the nutrition laboratory.  It is important because most of the other nutrients are usually expressed on a dry matter basis (as a percentage of the dry matter). 
•  Moisture or dry matter content is extremely important to the livestock industry, particularly those segments that deal with high moisture feeds. Moisture content is simply the loss in weight from evaporation of water.  This procedure works well for most feeds, but with some feeds, especially high moisture, fermented feeds, some problems may be encountered. 
• High moisture feeds usually contain volatile nutrients, which may be lost with 100^oC oven drying.  Volatile nutrients of greatest importance are short chain fatty acids (acetic, propionic, butyric, etc.) but essential oils (methol, camphor) could also be included in the list. 
•  Drying samples at 100^oC may volatilize some of these materials and result in higher moisture content (Lower dry matter) values than expected.