Table 1.
Mean values and inter-individual variability of in vitro fermentation parameters for fibrous substrates using feline faecal inocula (n 9 donor cats unless otherwise indicated)
| Parameter | Substrate | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CP | FOS | GG | SBP | WM | ||
| BCP (% of total SCFA production)* | Mean | 2·3 | 2·3 | 2·9 | 2·8 | 5·7 |
| CV (%) | 10 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 19 | |
| Rmax (ml/(g OM h)) | Mean | 87 | 85 | 51 | – | – |
| CV (%) | 15 | 11 | 32 | – | – | |
| Tmax (h) | Mean | 3·8 | 4·1 | 5·0 | – | – |
| CV (%) | 12 | 17 | 23 | – | – | |
| OMD (% of initial weight) | Mean | – | – | – | 86 | 49 |
| CV (%) | – | – | – | 12 | 12 | |
CP, citrus pectin; FOS, fructo-oligosaccharide; GG, guar gum; SBP, molassed sugar beet pulp; WM, wheat middlings; BCP, branched-chain proportion; Rmax, maximum rate of gas production; OM, organic matter; Tmax, time at which Rmax occurred; OMD, organic matter disappearance.
* n 8.