Simple methods for routine screening and quantitative estimation of oxalate content of tropical grasses.

A thin-layer chromatographic method is described for the semi-quantitative detection of oxalate in tropical grasses. The method allows the processing of large numbers of samples and should be sufficiently accurate for most screening requirements. High specificity and sensitivity for oxalate is achieved with simple laboratory equipment, but strict quantitation requires the use of a gas chrornatograph. It is suggested that a consideration of the oxalate content of tropical forage grasses is essential in comparisons of apparent digestibilities between species and between treatments.