Nutrition Research Laboratory

The Nutrition Research Laboratory at the Pig and Poultry Production Institute (PPPI) is a specialised feed evaluation laboratory primarily established to support animal nutrition research projects aimed at improving the efficiency of use of feed ingredients.

A key objective of the laboratory is development of rapid methods for the nutritional evaluation of feed. Analytical services are provided as a commercial service to the pig and poultry industries as well as other industries such as deer and fish.

The laboratory can accommodate up to seven scientists, six technical officers and four post-graduate students.

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Key analysis conducted within this modern, spacious, well-equipped laboratory are:

  • Near infra-red spectrophotometry forms an integral part of PPPI nutrition research programs and is used to rapidly predict the nutritional quality of feed ingredients. The laboratory is equipped with an NIRSystems 6500 near infra-red spectrophotometer utilising Win ISI software. The system has both reflectance and transmittance detectors and a sample transport module.
  • Gross energy analysis is conducted as part of digestible and metabolisable energy studies. the laboratory is equipped with two automated Parr adiabatic bomb calorimeters allowing up to 80 gross energy analyses to be completed per day.
  • Proximate analysis including Kjeldahl nitrogen, crude fibre, neutral-detergent fibre, acid-detergent fibre, ash, ether extract and dry matter. Routine analysis such as Kjeldahl nitrogen, which is completed on almost every feed and digesta sample that enters the laboratory, is completed with two Tecator 1026 semi-automatic Kjeltec distallation units.
  • Amino acid analysis is performed routinely as part of research projects and is offered as a commercial service to industry. The laboratory utilises a Waters High Pressure Liquid Chromatography system and Millennium chromatography software. Amino acids are separated following hydrolysis using ion-exchange chromatography and measured after reaction with ninhydrin. Norleucine is used as an internal standard.
  • Viscosity analysis of digesta is used to assess the influence of feed enzyme addition to diets and to determine the anti-nutritional role of non-starch polysaccharides in diets. Viscosity is measured using a Brookfield DV-III programmable rheometer and Rheocalc for Windows software.

Supporting general use equipment includes spectrophotometers, centrifuges, water purification units, pH meters, rotary evaporation units, fume cupboards with acid scrubbers, ashing ovens, incubators, water baths and extensive sample grinding facilities.