A Simplified Method for Sampling Small Animal Carcasses for Analyses.

Abstract

Summary A method is described for sampling small animal carcasses which enables representative aliquots to be taken of the output of a Waring blendor. Before blending, the animal carcass is autoclaved to soften the tissues. Samples are withdrawn from the blendor while the equipment is in operation and the contents of the blendor are being actively mixed. Thirty-three rat carcasses were analyzed for moisture, protein and energy using this technique of sampling. The coefficients of variation (i.e., variation among samples, within animals) found for analytical values of homogenates and derived analytical values for fresh carcasses varied from 0.25 to 1.19%. The largest coefficients of variation were found for per cent protein of homogenates (1.19%) and of fresh carcasses (0.95%). Other coefficients of variation observed were: per cent moisture in homogenates and fresh carcasses, 0.25 and 0.58%; and calories/g of homogenates and fresh carcasses, 0.32 and 0.34%, respectively.