Use of Infrared Spectroscopy to Estimate Fecal Output with Marker Lipe® - Special Issue

The aim of this study was to validate hydroxyphenyl propane (LIPE®) as an marker of fecal output in sheep, goats, chickens, ostriches, dairy cattle, equine, buffalo, and cattle species. Feces were carefully collected from the ground to avoid contamination put into polietilene bags and further weighed. LIPE® concentration in feces was determined using infrared spectroscopy. It was therefore necessary to create a standard curve; the concentration of LIPE® in an unknown sample is calculated by interpolation on the graph of the standard curve. The values for fecal output obtained using LIPE® as an marker were similar to those obtained by total feces collection. These studies thus validate LIPE® as an marker of fecal output. As an marker, LIPE® is comparable to total feces collection in these species with a recovery rate ranging from 95.8 to 106.3%. LIPE® can therefore be used to estimate fecal output.