Microscopic inspection is the simplest method for feed quality testing.
A. Chemical analysis
Detect the chemical composition of raw materials, usually including moisture, protein, ether extract (oil), crude fiber, ash, calcium, and phosphorus, and evaluate their quality by comparing them with standards. The composition of amino acids and fatty acids can be detected to obtain more information. The analysis shows the true nutrient content of the analyzed raw materials, and the data can be directly used for feed blending. This method requires well-equipped laboratories and well-trained chemical analysts or staff. In addition, analyzing the total cost of each sample is quite expensive. So the application of this method is mainly limited to the commercial production of feed factories. In feed mix, is an important nutrient - protein is determined by Kjeldahl nitrogen determination method, expressed as crude protein (N 6.25). The obtained results cannot reveal whether the nitrogen source comes from the protein in the raw material. Or protein in the admixture or non protein nitrogen in the sample. In addition, this analysis method cannot provide any information or display on the utilization of nutrients contained in the raw materials. In order to achieve optimal application of this method, other feed quality testing methods can be used to analyze and organize chemical analysis data accordingly.
B. Microscopic inspection of feed
The main purpose of feed microscopy detection is to identify and evaluate individual or mixed feed materials and impurities based on their external characteristics (stereomicroscope detection) or cellular characteristics (compound microscope detection). If the feed raw materials and impurities or pollutants are separated and measured in proportion, microscopic detection methods can be used to quantitatively identify the feed raw materials. In short, feed materials without adulteration or contamination will have chemical compositions that are very close to the recommended or reported standards or average values in the local area. Microscopic inspection of feed can tell the purity of feed raw materials, and with some experience, it can also provide satisfactory identification of quality. Compared to chemical analysis, this method requires much less in terms of equipment and analysis costs for each sample. Both commercial feed processing enterprises and farmers who produce their own feed can adopt this method.
