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Simple Summary: We tested the Ankom DaisyII Incubator as an alternative to the in vivo procedures for measuring the in vitro dry matter digestibility of diets for rabbits. The results were variable according to the methods. Among those tested in the trial, the enzymatic one was more effective than those based on fecal inocula. We conclude that the Ankom DaisyII Incubator can be used to estimate the in vivo dry matter digestibility of rabbit diets, but the choice of the method proved to be fundamental for the reproducibility of results. The apparent dry matter digestibility of diets for rabbits was measured in vivo (ADMDvv) and in vitro with the Ankom DaisyII Incubator. Four diets were tested: low fiber (LF), LF + 5% of pregerminated fenugreek seeds (PGFS) (LF5), LF + 10% PGFS (LF10), and high fiber (HF). For the ADMDvv, feces samples were collected from 56 White New-Zealand × Californian rabbits fed the 4 diets; animals were randomly allocated into 4 groups and housed in individual cages. For the in vitro trial, 3 methods were tested: fecal inoculum (FA) with Kansans State buffer; fecal inoculum with artificial saliva (FB); and multienzyme (ENZ). Fecal inocula were collected at slaughtering from the distal colon of rabbits fed ad libitum the LF diet. For FA and FB methods, the digestibility was measured at 36 and 48 h. The in vitro methods ranked the apparent dry matter digestibility of diets in the same order as in vivo, but ENZ values were always higher than FA and FB at 36 and 48 h. The prediction equations of in vivo digestibility with the ENZ method showed higher coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.69) and lower SE (0.190) than FA and FB; also, reproducibility was higher with ENZ (CV = 3.1%). In conclusion, different methods can be applied to the Ankom DaisyII Incubator to study the digestibility in rabbits. In our trial, the better reproducibility was observed with the multienzyme method than FA and FB were probably related to the variability of inocula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Ankom DaisyII incubator (ADII; Ankom Technology Corporation Fairport, NY, USA) has gained acceptance as an alternative to traditional in vitro procedures. It reduces the labour requirement and increases the number of determinations that can be completed by a single operator. The apparatus allows for the simultaneous incubation of several feedstuffs in sealed polyester bags in the same incubation vessel, which is rotated continuously at 39.5 °C. With this method, the material that disappears from the bag during incubation is considered digestible. The method, which was first developed to predict the digestibility of feedstuffs for ruminants, has been modified and adapted to improve its accuracy and prediction capacity. Modifications used by various researchers include the use of different inocula, buffer solutions, and sample weights. Recently, attempts have been made to adapt the method to determine nutrient digestibility of feedstuff in non-ruminant animals, including pets. This review summarises the use of the Ankom DaisyII incubator (ADII; Ankom Technology Corporation Fairport, NY, USA), as presented in studies on digestibility, and its extension to other species apart from ruminants, from its introduction until today. This technique has been modified and adapted to allow for different types of investigations to be conducted. Researchers have studied and tested different procedures, and the main sources of variation have been found to be: the inoculum source, sample size, sample preparation, and bag type. In vitro digestibility methods, applied to the ADII incubator, have been reviewed, the precision and accuracy of the method using the ADII incubator have been dealt with, and comparisons with other methods have been made. Moreover, some hypotheses on the possible evolutions of this technology in non-ruminants, including pets, have been described. To date, there are no standardised protocols for the collection, storage, and transportation of rumen fluid or faeces. There is also still a need to standardise the procedures for washing the bags after digestion. Moreover, some performance metrics of the instrument (such as the reliability of the rotation mechanism of the jars) still require improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]