Thomas model 4 wiley mill

Chromic oxide (0.25%) was added into each diet from day 104 to 112 of gestation as an inert indigestible indicator to measure the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients. Fecal samples were harvested from the floor during the last four days of gestation to measure the ATTD of DM; GE; CP; NDF; and ADF. The samples were mixed within the pen and dried in a forced-air drying oven at 60 °C for 72 h, and ground in a Wiley mill (Thomas Model 4 Wiley Mill, Thomas Scientific, Swedesboro, NJ, USA) using a 1-mm screen and used for chemical analysis. Experimental diets and excreta samples were analyzed in triplicate for DM (Method 930.15), CP (Method 990.03), and ADF (Method 973.18) according to AOAC [50 ]. The gross energy of the diets and feces was measured by a bomb calorimeter (Model 1261, Parr Instrument Co., Moline, IL), and chromium concentrations were determined with an automated spectrophotometer (Jasco V-650, Jasco Corp., Tokyo, Japan) according to the procedure of Fenton and Fenton [51 (link)]. This is an improved method for chromic oxide determination in feed and feces. The NDF was determined gravimetrically with exposure of samples to neutral detergent, amylase, and sodium sulfite, then filtration of samples on a 1.5-µm glass filter.

The researchers manually harvested the maguey leaves. The leaves were then retted via natural water retting to obtain their fibers. The obtained raw maguey fibers were washed three times using distilled water to remove remaining impurities before actual experimental execution and then dried in direct sunlight for 8 h. The dried maguey fibers were cut into sections measuring 3–5 cm long and then oven-dried at 80 °C or until a moisture content of <10% was achieved. A moisture content of 5.34% was achieved, as shown in Section S.I.1 in the Supplementary Material. The maguey fibers were then cut into 2–2.5 mm length pieces as part of the preparation before being pulverized in Thomas Model 4 Wiley^® Mill, Thomas Scientific, Swedesboro, NJ, USA, with a 1 mm screen plate. Maguey fibers were then sieved for 5 min using an ISO 3310-1 Laboratory Test Sieve, Endecotts Ltd., London, UK, sieve shaker with sieve sizes of 850, 450, 250, and 180 µm. The obtained mean particle size diameter was 582.6820 µm, as shown in Table S.I.2 in the Supplementary Material.

Immediately after collection, the samples were manually cleaned, separating the leaves and inflorescences. The samples were divided into two equal parts to be dried in an oven or by lyophilization. For the oven-drying procedure, the samples (leaves and inflorescences) were placed in a forced-ventilation oven (FX 1375, Shel Lab, Cornelius, OR, USA) at 40 °C for 48 h. For the lyophilization procedure, the samples were frozen at −80 °C for 24 h, and then placed in a freeze dryer (Scientz-10N, Ningbo Scientz Biotechnology Co., Zhejiang, China) at −60 °C and 1 Pa. Once dried, samples were ground in an electric blender (Thomas Model 4 Wiley Mill^®, Thomas Scientific, Swedesboro, NJ, USA) and sieved through a 500 µm mesh. The resulting powders were then placed in sealed bags and stored at −80 °C for further analysis.