Comparative analysis of three methods for measuring mixing uniformity of compound feed.

The purpose of the experiment was to analyze and compare three methods (methyl violet method, molar method, and chloride ion selective electrode method) of measuring feed mixing uniformity, so as to provide a reference for feed enterprises to choose determination methods. Six kinds of feed were selected in the experiment, including piglet early-stage compound feed, suckling pig concentrated feed, medium pig compound feed, broiler early-stage feed, broiler middle-stage feed, and broiler late-stage feed. Two batches of each feed were collected, with a total of 120 samples. The mixing uniformity was determined by methyl violet method, molar method, and chloride ion selective electrode method. The results showed that the mixing evenness CV of six kinds of feeds determined by chloride ion selective electrode method was below 10.00% in the allowable range of national standard, and the results determined by methyl violet method were less than 10.00% except for medium pig compound feed. The mixing evenness of three kinds of pig feed was less than 10.00% by molar method, and the mixing evenness of three kinds of chicken feed was more than 10.00%. The variation coefficient of mixing uniformity of medium pig compound feed measured by methyl violet method was significantly higher than that by chloride ion selective electrode method (P<0.05). The variation coefficient of mixing evenness of broiler early-stage feed, broiler middle-stage feed by molar method were significantly higher than those by methyl violet method and chloride ion selective electrode method (P<0.05). The variation coefficient of mixing uniformity of broiler late-stage feed by molar method was significantly higher than that by methyl violet method and chloride ion selective electrode method (P<0.05), and the mixing uniformity of broiler late-stage feed by methyl violet method was significantly higher than that by chloride ion selective electrode method (P<0.05). The study indicates that the method of chloride ion selective electrode was effective in measuring the mixing uniformity of six kinds of feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]