Comparisons of commercially available NIRS-based analyte predictions of haylage quality for equid nutrition

Maintaining animal health and performance relies on the availability of an appropriate diet. For herbivores, accurate assessment forage nutrient quality is critical for diet formulation rationing, including potential supplementation. Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) a rapid method that used in place traditional chemical methodologies (wet chemistry) to predict analyte contents samples. The scanning sample with near-infrared light predicting content by comparing reflected spectra model which has been developed samples known measured wet chemistry. purpose this study was examine accuracy four NIRS-based methods haylage from seven farm holdings compared chemistry (the control). We analysed 64 range analytes (dry matter (DM), pH, ash, acid detergent fibre expressed inclusive residual ash (ADF), neutral assayed heat stable amylase (aNDF), crude protein water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC)) commonly assessed equid nutrition. results obtained corresponding predictions commercially available NIRS services. revealed large discrepancies amongst all five methods. DM, average bias (mean±SD) three reported − 15.5 ± 188.4, 10.1 50.4, 12.9 33.8 g/kg respectively WSC reporting positive 26.9 51.3, 24.8 38.2, 26.2 50.1 14.5 45.2, g/Kg respectively. extent these also varied where example, DM were more reliable than those demonstrated could result feeding outside target nutritional values.