The measurement of dietary fibre in pet food: a comparison of methods

The aim of this study was to compare a number of methods of dietary fibre d etermination, including crude fibre and evaluate the important differences between them in typical per food recipes. Twenty-seven (15 dry and 12 moist ) dog and 24 commercially prepared cat foods (13 dry and 11 moist) were ana lysed for fibre and proximates. Dietary fibre was measured by the following methods: 1. crude fibre; 2. acid detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin by VAN SOEST (1963); 3. total, soluble and insoluble fibre by ENGLYST and CUMMINGS (1988); 4. total, soluble and insoluble fibre by PROSKY et al. (19 85). Generally moist foods contained lower levels of fibre components compa red with dry foods. Significant correlations (r greater than or equal to 0. 81**) were found between all fibre components which include cellulose such as crude fibre, acid detergent fibre, total fibre, and insoluble fibre (bot h methods). No significant correlations were found for acid detergent ligni n, or soluble fibre (both methods).