Publications

Manuals & Guidelines

Estimation of rumen microbial protein production from purine derivatives in urine.
A laboratory manual for the FAO/IAEA Co-ordinated Research Programme on Development, Standardization and Validation of Nuclear Based Technologies for Measuring Microbial Protein Supply in Ruminant Livestock for Improving Productivity. IAEA-TECDOC-945 [pdf], Vienna (1997).

Summary

This publication is a laboratory manual that was prepared following the completion of an FAO/IAEA Coordinated Research Project that dealt with the development, standardization and validation of a simple methodology for estimating microbial protein production in-vivo. The lack of such an assay has limited studies that could be taken in developing countries on how best to meet ruminant protein requirements. The method described uses the measurement of purine derivatives in the urine as an estimate of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen and now provides the opportunity for scientists in developing countries to effectively determine the value and appropriateness of a variety of locally available potential feed resources. It includes descriptions of methods that involve both radioactive and stable isotopes as well an non-isotopic techniques such as chemical assays.

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