An Approach to Handling Variability in a Variable Measure

Currently, feed digestibility values that we measure in the lab are variable:
within and across labs, and across methods. At least in part, this is inherent
in biological assays, but it affects the utility of the values.

What we present here for discussion is an approach for improving the
usefulness of the measures and their coherence across labs.

Click on the links below to find out more (paper describing method &
other supporting presentations).

Contact Mary Beth Hall (Marybeth.Hall@ars.usda.gov)
with your comments/input/discussion.

Links

Standardizing Digestibility Results Across labs: A Possible Approach (First posted 3/2/2008, updated 3/14/2008)
Mary Beth Hall and David Mertens, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA"ARS, Madison, WI

Measuring DM and NDF digestibility and defining their importance
David Mertens, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-ARS, Madison, WI
Presentation given at 2002 NIRS Consortium meeting (PDF)

Variation when determining dNDF and NDFD and its prediction by NIRS
David Mertens, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-ARS, Madison, WI
Presentation given at 2004 NIRS Consortium meeting (PDF)