Thesis
Effects of three practical diets on feeding behavior, nutritional status, rumen health, and growth of captive mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawns
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101527
Abstract
Digestive upset and failure to thrive are common among captive exotic ruminants, especially browsers, often resulting from improper nutrition. Zoo nutritionists have begun including more soluble fiber and less starch in pelleted diets in an attempt to correct these problems. Therefore, we examined the effects of feeding 24 juvenile mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) 3 complete pelleted diets with different starch, fiber, and crude protein content on behavior, physiology and growth. At birth (May 2007), mule deer were randomly assigned to one of the 3 diets, which included low-starch, high-fiber (LSHF; 51.6 % NDF, 3.0 % starch, and 14.8 % CP), high-starch, low-fiber (HSLF; 33.3 % NDF, 20.0 % starch, and 19.6 % CP), and moderate-starch, low-fiber (MSLF; 35.7 % NDF, 16.6 % starch, and 19.3 % CP) diets. Deer were fed these diets ad libitum with no more than 25 % alfalfa hay from 10 d old until September 2008 (68 wk old). During 5 sampling periods beginning in November 2007 and spaced 6 to 12 weeks apart thereafter, we measured intake, digestion and passage, rumen chemistry and morphology, growth, and body condition. Intake, mean retention time of particles, and DM and apparent energy digestibility did not differ among diets. However, crude protein digestibility was greatest in MSLF, neutral detergent solubles digestibility greatest in HSLF, and NDF digestibility greatest in LSHF. The higher fiber content of LSHF led to longer rumination and feeding times of animals fed this diet than those fed either HSLF or MSLF diets. At an earlier age, animals consuming the higher starch diets tended to have poorer fecal consistency than those consuming the LSHF diet, but all groups improved over time. For animals consuming LSHF, blood acetate and ruminal acetate:propionate tended to be higher and BUN lower than for those animals consuming either HSLF or MSLF. Deer had the same growth and body fat among treatments. Our findings show pelleted diets with low starch and high fiber met the energy and protein requirements of growing mule deer, a medium-sized browsing ruminant, with potentially fewer digestive problems, as well as grain-based diets.
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Details
- Title
- Effects of three practical diets on feeding behavior, nutritional status, rumen health, and growth of captive mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawns
- Creators
- Sarah McCusker
- Contributors
- Lisa A. Shipley (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, College of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525103501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis