Technical Notes: Comparing the captec bolus to chromic oxide dosed twice daily using sheep in confinement

Abstract

Thirty-six wethers were used in 3 trials to compare estimates of fecal output using chromic oxide either in a continuous-release bolus or dosed twice daily. Wethers were confined in metabolism crates and fed alfalfa. Chromium content was determined in rectal grab samples. Only in trial 2 were differences (P = 0.06) detected between the ability of the 2 methods to precisely estimate fecal output. Variation of estimated fecal output was greater using the bolus than estimates using the twice daily dosing method. Both methods tended to over-estimate actual fecal output under pen fed conditions.