One of the most commonly used methods for analysis of polyphenols is the Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) method, where the FC reagent has been reported to interfere with some substances in fruit juices. The interfering substance that is present in the highest amount in most fruit juices is ascorbic acid. In this study, the total phenolic content (TPC) of three fruit juices was analysed by the FC method as well as with an enzymatic method with hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase type II (HRP) for comparison. To investigate how the interfering ascorbic acid affects the TPC, juice samples were analysed after removal and addition, respectively, of ascorbic acid. The samples were analysed with HPLC both before and after the extraction phase of the FC method.

Soybean meal from South America is the most common protein feed used for animal production in Sweden. Production of soybean has negative effects on the environment and the transports from South America to Sweden causes considerable CO2 emissions. Therefore it is a growing interest in locally produced protein feed in Sweden. Protein feeds that are possible to grow in Sweden are rapeseed, peas, faba beans and lupins. Those are adapted to the Nordic climate and are perfect to grow in cereal rotations.

The objective for this master?s thesis was to test and evaluate two methods for determining the content of tannin in a pinebarkextract. The methods used at Södra for this previously have not been specific enough, only the amount of polyphenolics have been measured. One of these methods is a test based on the Stiasny test and it determines the extracts ability to form a gel with formaldehyde. When this test was carried out it showed that the extract did not contain much tannin.

There is a shortage of locally produced high quality protein concentrates in Europe andSweden. Local production would decrease the dependency on imported soybean and meet thedemand for organically grown feedstuff from ecological dairy farmers. Field bean (Viciafaba), peas (Pisum sativum) and sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) are good alternatives tosoybean, but contain anti-nutritional substances (ANS) that could reduce their use as proteinconcentrates in dairy cow diets. The aim of this literature study was to review which ANSfield bean, peas and sweet lupin contain and whether they affect dairy cows negatively.Trypsin inhibitors and Chymotrypsin inhibitors (TI) were present in all three crops. TI couldbecome inactivated and degraded in the rumen, but due to the high passage speed of thedigesta, most TI left the rumen in an active state.

In developing countries such as Vietnam the population consumes more animal products for example milk and meat than before which requires greater livestock production. Ruminants contributes to more methane emission which creates a dilemma between food production and its environmental impact. By feeding ruminants with nutritive crops which humans can not assimilate the animal performance will increase in terms of better growth and milk production without inpinging on food that can be consumed directly by humans. Increasing animal performance reduces methane emission in terms of amount of methane in kg-1 milk and meat which today is much greater in developing countries than developed countries. The aim of the study was to investigate tropical tannin-rich legumes for their potential as a feed supplement for ruminants made in vitro.

The purpose with this literature study was to investigate the possibilities for improvement of forage protein in dairy cows with focus on feeding strategies and conservation of forage protein. The utilization of forage protein in dairy cows is often not that efficient as it could be. The feed crude protein consists of both true proteins and non protein nitrogen. The digestion of proteins in the rumen depends on the protein degradation rate and the ability of the microbes to synthesize microbial protein. The microbes need a balance between carbohydrates that provide them with energy and proteins that are degradable in the rumen.

The purpose with this study was to analyze the possibilities to produce organic lambs and to hihglight the most common difficulties in such a production system. A description of current organic and conventional lamb production systems was conducted, both from Sweden and from some other countries. The Department of Animal Environment and Health at SLU in Skara performed the project together with The County Board of Agriculture in Västra Götaland and Värmland and The Swedish Animal Health Service. The project lasted from 2002 to 2004. The student report contains the years 2002 and 2003. In the year of 2003 there were 210 000 adult sheep in Sweden, of which 16 400 adult sheep were certified by KRAV. Of the different countries in Sweden, Västra Götaland and Gotland had the largest number of sheep, 14 and 13 per cent of the total number.