Statement of

measurement 4005

Poultry feed – proximates and elements

Reference Material LGC7173

Assessed Values
Number of Assessed value1 Uncertainty2
Constituent Weight3 (g) k value4
laboratories (g/100 g) (g/100 g)
Moisture 9 10.70 0.36 5 2.26
Nitrogen 9 2.559 0.062 0.25 2.14
Oil 8 4.95 0.23 2.5 2.31
Ash 9 7.224 0.091 5 2.18
Crude Fibre 7 3.75 0.38 1 2.11

Number of Assessed value1 Uncertainty2

Constituent Weight3 (g) k value4
laboratories (mg/kg) (mg/kg)
Calcium 10 17800 1200 0.5 2.12
Copper 9 14.0 4.0 0.5 2.12
Iron 9 148 27 0.5 2.09
Magnesium 8 2037 81 0.5 2.09
Manganese 10 90 13 0.5 2.09
Phosphorus 9 6590 370 0.5 2.20
Potassium 9 7480 310 0.5 2.16
Sodium 9 1180 130 0.5 2.09
Zinc 10 78 15 0.5 2.10
Notes:
1. These values have been assigned using data derived from a variety of methods – see page 3.
2. The uncertainty quoted is the half-width of the expanded uncertainty interval calculated using a coverage factor
(k), providing a level of confidence of approximately 95 %.
3. Weight of sample taken for homogeneity assessment.
4. Coverage factor (k).

Date of Issue: January 2020

Signed:
Gill Holcombe (Mrs)
for the Government Chemist

Material number: LGC7173

Batch number: 004
Page 1 of 5
Indicative Values
The following figures have not been assessed but are provided for information purposes and should
be regarded as indicative values only.

Constituent Content (g/100 g)

Starch 41
Chloride 0.23

Material Production
A sample of poultry feed, purchased from a commercial animal feed manufacturer, was ground to
pass a 1 mm sieve, thoroughly mixed and vacuum-sealed in sachets as 50 g portions.
Homogeneity
The homogeneity of the packaged material was assessed by the analysis of a representative
number of units for each constituent of interest. A value was calculated for the between unit
variation for each constituent and an uncertainty was estimated for each constituent due to any
possible non-homogeneity.
Characterisation
The material was characterised by means of an inter-laboratory exercise organised by LGC.
Laboratories were asked to determine Moisture, Crude Protein (expressed as Nitrogen), Oil
(according to procedure ‘B’), Ash, Crude Fibre and Starch according to ‘EEC methods of analysis
for the official control of feedingstuffs’ as incorporated into UK law in ‘The Feeding Stuffs (Sampling
and Analysis) Regulations 2009’. Analytical methods were not specific by LGC for the remaining
analytes. Details of the analytical methods used for the characterisation of this material are
contained in the following pages.
The assessed values are based on the mean of the individual laboratory means, after elimination of
outlying results. The standard deviation of the mean of the laboratory means was used to calculate
the uncertainty arising from the inter-laboratory characterisation exercise. The combined expanded
uncertainty for each assessed value (quoted in the tables on page 1) was calculated by combining
the inter-laboratory characterisation uncertainty with an uncertainty value calculated from the
homogeneity assessment, and expanding using an appropriate coverage factor to obtain a 95 %
confidence interval.
Stability
Previous experience suggests that this material is stable over the anticipated lifetime, however
LGC7173 Batch 004 will be subjected to routine stability testing under LGC’s ‘reference material
stability testing’ program. Purchasers will be informed of any changes that affect the assessed
values.

Material number: LGC7173

Batch number: 004
Page 2 of 5
Summary of Analytical Techniques Used by Laboratories in the
Characterisation Study (Accepted Data Only)
The techniques used for the characterisation of this material are shown below.

Element ICP-OES ICP-MS AAS Other techniques

Calcium 5 4 1 0
Copper 4 4 1 0
Magnesium 5 2 1 0
Phosphorus 5 3 0 1 (Photometric molybdovanadate method)
Potassium 5 3 0 1 (AES)
Sodium 5 3 0 1 (AES)
Iron 5 2 2 0
Manganese 5 4 1 0
Zinc 5 4 1 0

Constituent Techniques used

Moisture Five laboratories determined moisture according to ‘The Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and
Analysis) Regulations 2009. Other laboratories used variations on this procedure
involving heating for longer or shorter periods of time. All used a temperature of
102 – 103 °C.
Nitrogen Three laboratories analysed nitrogen according to ‘The Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and
Analysis) Regulations 2009. Six laboratories made reference to the Dumas method.
Oil Five laboratories analysed oil according to ‘The Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis)
Regulations 2009. One laboratory used ICC Standard which included an acid digestion
and two laboratories used a Werner Schmidt method.
Ash Two laboratories analysed ash according to ‘The Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis)
Regulations 2009. Other laboratories used variations on this procedure, including ashing
of the sample at temperatures between 500 °C and 550 °C and for longer periods of time
than the regulation method.
Crude Fibre Four laboratories analysed crude fibre according to ‘The Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and
Analysis) Regulations 2009. The other three laboratories used the following procedures:
Ankom method, Fibre Cap extraction and Fibre bag.
Starch Two laboratories analysed starch according to ‘The Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and
Analysis) Regulations 2009. One laboratory used enzymic hydrolysis of the starch to
glucose and then a glucose determination by the glucose oxidase method with a
spectrophotometric end determination.

Where laboratories used statutory methods, results were consistent with the values reported on
page 1 of this statement.

Material number: LGC7173

Batch number: 004
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Intended Use
This material is intended for use in the development, validation or quality control of analytical
methods for the determination of proximates and elements in animal feeding stuffs. The material
may also be applicable to other similar matrices where more clearly matched reference materials
are not available.

Storage Conditions
The reference material should be stored in the unopened sachet at (5 ± 4) °C. Once opened, the
material should be stored in a closed container at (5 ± 4) °C and used within 3 days.

Shelf Life
If stored under the recommended conditions, the assessed values of the material will remain valid
for 12 months from the date of shipment (please refer to page 5 for date of shipment).

Instructions for Use

The sachet should be brought to room temperature (20 ± 5) °C before opening and then the entire
contents transferred immediately to an airtight jar. Stir the powder well before removing a sub-
sample. To minimise any change in moisture content, the lid should be replaced as soon as
possible after removing a sub-sample. The jar may be stored at (5 ± 4) °C for up to 3 days if the
material is to be used again, but should be brought to room temperature (20 ± 5) °C before taking a
sub-sample.
The minimum sample size is dependent upon the analyte and is determined by the weight of the
sample taken for homogeneity assessment (quoted in the tables on page 1).

Metrological Traceability
The assessed values are considered to be traceable to the SI through the physical and chemical
standards used by the participants in the inter-laboratory study.

Participants in the Inter-laboratory Exercise

The number of participants results used in the calculation of the assessed values is given in the
tables on page 1. The following participants took part in the inter-laboratory exercise:

Alliance Technical Laboratories Ltd (UK)

Ashwood UK Ltd (UK)
DM Scientific Ltd (UK)
Edinburgh Scientific Services (UK)
Industrial Technology Institute (Sri Lanka)
Lancashire County Scientific Services (UK)
Premier Analytical Services (UK)
Sciantec Analytical Services (UK)
The State Laboratory (Ireland)
Trouw Nutrition GB Analytical Services (UK)
Worcestershire Scientific Services (UK)

Material number: LGC7173

Batch number: 004
Page 4 of 5
 Unit Number Date of Shipment

Legal notice

The values quoted in this document are the best estimate of the true values within the stated
uncertainties and based on the techniques described herein. No warranty or representation, express
or implied, is made that the use of the product or any information, material, apparatus, method or
process which is the subject of or referred to in this document does not infringe any third party rights.
Further, save to the extent: (a) prohibited by law; or (b) caused by a party's negligence; no party shall
be liable for the use made of the product, any information, material, apparatus, method or process
which is the subject of or referred to in this document. In no event shall the liability of any party
exceed whichever is the lower of: (i) the value of the product; or (ii) £500,000; and any liability for
loss of profit, loss of business or revenue, loss of anticipated savings, depletion of goodwill, any third-
party claims or any indirect or consequential loss or damage in connection herewith is expressly
excluded.

This material was produced by LGC in its role as the UK’s National Measurement Laboratory and
Designed Institute for Chemical and Bio-measurement.

This document may not be published except in full, unless permission for the publication of
an approved extract has been obtained in writing from LGC Limited. It does not of itself
impute to the subject of measurement any attributes beyond those shown by the data
contained herein.

Material number: LGC7173

Batch number: 004
Page 5 of 5