Different methods of nutritional analysis of livestock feed and fodder:

• Nutritional analysis of feed and fodder is the process of determining the nutrient composition of feed, which can be expressed as a percentage or quantity per unit of weight.
• The nutrient composition of feed is typically expressed on a dry matter, as fed or air-dry basis.
• The estimation of livestock requirements and the extent to which different feeds and fodder supply those needs are essential to efficient feeding of millions of cattle and other animals.
• The criteria by which the relative values of different feeds may be analyzed are as follows:

a. Chemical Analysis

• Proximate analysis (Weende system of feed analysis)
• The Van Soest Method of analysis

b. Digestibility trials

• Conventional type of digestion trial
• In-Vivo digestibility method

c. Estimation of energy content

• Carbon Nitrogen Balance Technique
• By bomb calorimeter
• By calculating TDN from digestion trial
• From chemical composition

d. Evaluation of protein quality:

• For non-ruminants:
  • Protein efficiency ratio
  • Biological Value (BV)
  • Net-protein Utilization
• For ruminants:
  • DCP estimation by digestion trial
  • Nitrogen balance experiment