Amino Acids play a critical role in the nutritional composition of feedstuffs. Those amino acids classed as "essential amino acids" cannot be synthesized from other available resources, so must be made available in the food or supplement source.

Advances in analytical chemistry and cost-effective commercial production of amino acids now allow nutritionists to provide a more precise feed formulation. This allows the full amino acid value of a protein source to be maximized leading to better animal nutrition and health, and long-term economic benefits to the industry.

Accuracy is essential in the determination of feed amino acids, however advances in HPLC instruments have emphasised the speed of chromatography at the expense of the resolution of peaks. Using the Biochrom 30 Amino Acid Analyser, the analysis of complex hydrolysates such as oxidised food or feedstuff samples are easily accomplished. Limiting amino acids such as lysine, threonine, cystine and methionine may be rapidly identified to enable adjustments to the formulation of feedstuffs.