Evaluation of N-alkanes as Faecal Markers to Estimate Diet Composition, Feed Intake, and Digestibility in European Bison (Bison bonasus)

Table 4

Estimates of apparent dry matter digestibility (DMDap) in bison fed on straw and beeswax labelled concentrate feed, using different long-chain n-alkanes.

Faecal recovery correction (FRC)

Effects

Without FRC

With FRC

FRC

M

FRC × M

SEM

n-alkane

27

29

31

33

27

29

31

33

DMDap (g/kg DM)

583 ± 5.4

615 ± 6.1

635 ± 3.2

671 ± 0.1

682 ± 4.1

665 ± 5.3

667 ± 3.0

657 ± 0.1

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

2.33

DMD ap, apparent dry matter digestibility. FRC, faecal recovery correction. M, n-alkane marker. SEM, standard error of mean.