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Polyethylene as a Reference Substance for Digestion Studies with Young Ruminants¹

Department of Dairy Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

ABSTRACT

Indigestible reference substances have been utilized since the late 1800's in investigating sites of absorption and secretion (2). They have included a large variety of materials, both natural and foreign components of the feed. More recently, the use of an isotope of cerium (Ce¹⁴⁴) has been described (1). Since the physical properties exhibited by the reference substance influence its rate of movement in the digestive tract, the valid usefulness of each reference material is restricted to the study of nutrients with similar physical characteristics. An ideal reference substance for estimating dry matter digestion has not been reported.

A material should possess the following characteristics before it can be accepted as a reliable reference substance:

1. It doesn't influence the normal digestive processes of the animal or exhibit any unpalatable properties.
   
2. It is not absorbed to any significant degree and recovery of 100% of the daily dose in the feces is possible.
   
3. The reference substance and nutrient under investigation move together through the digestive tract.
   

¹ Authorized for publication on September 14, 1964 as Paper No. 2935 in the Journal series of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.