The percentage of a nutrient on a dry-matter basis is always ______ than on an as-fed basis.

The percentage of a nutrient on a dry-matter basis is always higher than on an as-fed basis due to the way each measurement is calculated.

When considering as-fed basis, the total weight of the feed includes both the dry matter and the moisture content. Therefore, when nutrients are measured on an as-fed basis, their percentages reflect the dilution effect of the water present in the feed. For example, if a feed contains a certain amount of protein but also has a significant amount of moisture, the protein percentage appears lower because it is spread out over the total weight, which includes the water.

On the dry-matter basis, moisture is removed, allowing the nutrient percentages to be calculated solely based on the actual nutrients present in the feed. This means that the concentration of nutrients appears higher because it is expressed relative to the dry matter only, free from the dilution effect caused by moisture.

As a result, understanding the distinction between the two measurement methods is crucial, especially in animal nutrition and feed formulation, where the nutrient content assessment directly influences dietary decisions.