Determination of Monensin in Raw Material, Premix,
and Animal Feeds by Liquid Chromatography
with Correlation to Microbiological Assay
Abstract A method Is described for the detection and quantitation of monensin In raw material, premix, and feeds by liquid chromatography (LC) with postcolumn derlvatlzatlon with vanillin. Monensin was mixed with vanillin under acidic conditions and heated, and the resulting products were measured by a variable wavelength visible detector operating at 520 nm. The LC response of monensin and monensln-llke factors was determined and correlated to the microbiological response of each factor as determined with Streptococcus faeclum. Monensin reference standard was characterized In the same manner as the individual factors. The chemical composition of the reference standard and the relative microbiological potency values were used In combination to calculate the biopotency contribution of each of the monensin factors. A formula was used to transform chemical composition values of the reference standard to total microbiological activity as obtained directly from a microbiological assay. The formula was tested by comparing samples assayed by LC using the formula to report microbiological potency with samples assayed by the Autoturb method. Finally, the LC method was validated with raw material, premix, cattle rations (including liquid supplements), and poultry rations.