Determination of ruminated tablet number using soluble marker

This study was supported by MSM2678846201 and GACR 523/02/0164. For experiments in area of dairy cows amino acid nutrition the ruminaly protected tablets containing protein, free amino acids or mix of them has been developed. In consequence of their size (>5 mm) an unneglible part of them can be regurgitated. The proportion of regurgitated particles and their passage rate through the GI tract are besides of their physical characters influenced by animal factor and dry matter intake (Třináctý et al., 1999a). For obtaining of more correct predictions of amino acid duodenal flows a simple and uninvasive method for determination of actual proportion of regurgitated tablets was investigated. In cooperation with University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences the inert tablets with requisite physical characters containing soluble undigestible marker were developed. The principle of their function consists in determination of from damaged tablets released marker in feaces. In experiment the proportion of regurgitated tablets determinated by the direct (counting) and undirect (using marker) method were compared.