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Description:

Groundbreaking Spectroscopic Method Proposed for Assessing Biological Availability of Fibre for In Vivo Digestible Energy (DE) in Feeds and Forage.

By D. A. Flores

SB Internet

Port Coquitlam, BC

Canada V3B 1G3

Recent studies have been undertaken of the utility of direct probe devices by infrared reflectance (IR) spectroscopy using optic fibre against a ceramic blank to pick up the wavelengths characteristic within the 1100-2000 nm near infrared (IR) zone and set against internal comparisons with regression coefficients with known samples of value, and with unknowns to predict their values with crude fibre, crude protein and fat. The robustness of using prepared samples is tested with chemical proximal analyses and standard errors associated with the statistically analyzed data obtained by the prediction equations due to scatter on the bar graph.

It occurred to Skye Blue 'on the wire' that there is a advanced student at Penn State University, from State College PA USA who is interested in building the device that can spectrophotometrically measure lignin itself in addition to current crude fibre measures.

It has been found that according L. E. Chase and cow-workers at Cornell U., Ithaca N. Y. USA that the bonding (types and nos.) between the ligneous moieties and carbohydrate moieties is most correlated with the feed material's digestibility, the concern of the study here.

Therefore when designing the direct probe device, it is requisite to ascertain which bonds and their absorption and reflectance bands in their spectra within the near IR region (viz. their vibrational energy spectra) best reflects lignin quantification and their measure to be used to assess feed or forage quality with respect to energy availability from its digestibility in vivo in livestock.

Basically the whole set-up comprises the direct reflectance fibre-optic based probe, the ceramic blank for comparison of 100% reflectance in material, and software (cf. WInISI 1.05 software) used with a Pentium III Hewlett-Packard (HP) stand alone desk computer unit in one study [see: I. Gonzalez-Martin. Instantaneous Determination of Crude Protein, Fat and Fibre in Animal Feeds Using Near Infrared Reflection Spectroscopy Technology and a Remote Reflectance Fibre-Optic Probe. Ani. Fd. Sci. Tech. 128: 165-171 (2006)].

We will be reporting in the coming days when news is advised of progress towards the invention idea's realization through contacts of ours at Penn State U., PA USA.

FOSS of Denmark is believed to be also a future contractor for this groundbreaking device which will greatly improve the assessment of fibre energy availability in vivo with animal livestock since crude fibre as it stands does not sufficiently predict energy availability in feeds as is including the DM or OM digestible energy (DE) and may improve this parameter's significance.

Closing Remarks.

It is not yet known as to what ligneous moieties are concerned in terms of bonding types (e. g. ester, ether, and direct high energy C-C bonds), their bonding to carbohydrate moieties as to type and their distribution or frequency of occurrence in plant biomass or material and their associated near-IR reflectance bands to quantitate them as they closely correlate with bioavailability or digestibility in the rumen stomachs of livestock.

Extensive assay of chemical bonds as chemically deduced through reactivity in standards to quantify their distribution (type and no.) will have to be performed together with in vivo (in saco in rumen) studies to make selection rules as to which bands in their near-IR spectra correlates most as sensitive indicators as to their readiness or recalcitrance to bond breaking by mixing, mastication, physically speaking and via enzyme action by major cellulolytic microbial spp. (e. g. bacteria and fungi).

Sending warmest regards to our collaborators and industry contacts,

D. A. Flores, B.A., M.A.S. (Biotech)

Owner and Principal

Skye Blue (SB) Press Corporation

Port Coquitlam, BC Canada V3B 1G3

+1 (236) 983-6419

skyebluepublications@aim.com

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//DAF-2026-01-08

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Last update of this entry: January 08, 2026