REVIEW PAPER
Acid-insoluble ash as a marker in digestibility
studies: a review
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Laboratory of Animal Nutrition,
Department of Animal Nutrition, Genetics, Breeding and Ethology,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University,
Heidestraat 19, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
Publication date: 2003-07-15
Corresponding author
J. Sales
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition,
Department of Animal Nutrition, Genetics, Breeding and Ethology,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University,
Heidestraat 19, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2003;12(3):383-401
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The use of markers to determine digestibility of feeds overcomes the need to make exact measurements of feed intake and total faecal output in the traditional total collection method. Although several external and internal markers have been evaluated through the years, a marker that satisfies all
the criteria of an ideal marker is yet to be found. This review describes the use of acid-insoluble ash
(AIA) as a marker in digestibility studies. Three variations of the original gravimetrically method, based on burning of organic matter in the sample by ashing, boiling in hydrochloric acid, and re-ashing,
are commonly used to determine AIA contents. A summary of the recovery rate of AIA determined
in several species with different diets presented a mean around 100%. Of 45 studies where the AIA
method was compared to the total collection method to determine digestibility of feeds in different
species, 26 showed similar results, 9 an underestimation by the AIA method, and 10 an overestimation. No significant diurnal or daily variation in faecal AIA has been found in poultry, sheep, pigs, or
cattle. Analytical error could be described as the most common reason for failure when using AIA as
marker, especially in feeds with low natural AIA content. It is concluded that AIA presents a reliable
marker with several advantages that could be successfully utilize to determine faecal digestibility in
animal species under certain circumstances, and with the application of some precautions.
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