Fast, accurate and scientifically documented method for measuring in vivo digestibility values of protein and amino acids.
Would you like to evaluate the quality of
new or existing protein raw materials for pets, livestock or fish?
In that case, digestibility tests conducted at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) using ferrets are an effective and reliable method.
I In just 4–6 weeks, you will receive accurate figures on the biological availability of protein and amino acids – valuable data that ensures the correct composition of feed products.
About the digestibility trials
Digestibility determination is a necessary part of assessing feed ingredients to ensure that the nutritional needs of each animal species are met when compiling a feed mixture.
In digestibility trials with ferrets, it is mainly animal and vegetable protein feedstuffs that are examined for protein and amino acid digestibility. The method is standardised and was developed in the 1970s to determine the digestibility of feed ingredients for mink, but has gradually become an established general method and model for biological digestibility or in vivo digestibility of feed ingredients for other animal species. Previously, mink were used in digestibility determination, but since there are no longer any mink in Norway, ferrets have taken over. Both mink and ferrets are mustelids and give the same results in the test.
Simple method
The advantage of ferrets is that experiments can be carried out in just 7 days due to their short and simple intestinal tract with a passage time of only 3-4 hours. The amount of feed required for an experiment is small, usually 1-2 kg. Furthermore, the feed mixture is produced as wet feed (6-7 kg) using simple mixing equipment.
The experiment itself is conducted by recording how much the ferret eats and collecting its faeces. The feed and faeces are then analysed for protein and amino acids. This allows us to calculate how much protein is absorbed during digestion and calculate the digestibility value.
Protein digestibility can vary from 30 to over 90%. Knowing the digestibility is therefore crucial for determining how much to use in feed and for setting the price of the product.
Ferrets are small animals that are practical and easy to handle. During the experiments, each ferret is housed in a spacious individual cage. When the ferrets are not involved in experiments, they spend their days in a communal pen.
Our clients
Our clients are feed manufacturers and research projects in Norway and abroad who want to test new raw materials or products that are specifically intended for use in feed for fish and pets. Some feed manufacturers also carry out regular checks on the products they manufacture.
"Ferrets in playland"
What do the ferrets do when they are not busy with research assignments?
They play, jump around, dig, climb, splash in water and squabble.
Who we are
Laboratory analyses
The analyses of protein content and amino acids are carried out at LabTek - chemical analyses NMBU.
Contact us
Please contact us for a consultation or to arrange an assessment of your feed.
Email: Øysten Ahlstrøm
Phone: +47 41525323