Abstract
The objective of this work was to explore the relative merits of near and mid-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in determining the composition of sodium chlorite treated forages and by-products. Sixteen feed-stuffs (174 total samples treated at one of 11 levels of sodium chlorite, 0 to 0.394 g per gram of feedstuff) were examined in the near and mid-infrared spectral regions using diffuse reflectance on a Fourier transform spectrometer, and in the near infrared region using a grating monochromator. Samples were scanned as is and as 5% sample in KBr on the Fourier spectrometer and as is on the grating monochromator. Samples were analysed chemically and spectroscopically for neutral and acid detergent fibre, in vitro digestibility, permanganate lignin, crude protein and lignin nitrobenzene oxidation products. Results showed that diffuse mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy can perform as well as, and sometimes better than, diffuse near infrared reflectance spectroscopy in determining the composition of chlorite-treated forages and by-products. In addition, Fourier near infrared spectroscopy did not perform as well as either near infrared using a grating monochromator or the Fourier mid-infrared spectrometer. Finally, diluting samples with KBr was often beneficial for mid-infrared based determinations.
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