Digestibility and passage of standard zoo diet fed to greater mouse deer (Tragulus napu)
1994
Conklin, N.L. (Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (USA). Dept. of Anthropology) | Dierenfeld, E.S.
Feeding trials were conducted on 11 adult greater mouse deer Tragulus napu in 5 mixed sex groups, at the Wildlife Conservation Park, Bronx, New York, USA, to quantify aspects of digestive physiology. Diets consumed contained (as-fed basis): 63 low fiber (16 ADF) commercial herbivore pellets, 25 raw yam, 7 kale, and 6 fruit. Total feed intake averaged 6.4 of body mass; dry matter intake was 4.4. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter (75.8), crude protein (77.2) and total cell wall (42.2) were high on this medium/low fibre diet (25.8 NDF). Passage marker studies (three 6-day trials on one animal) revealed: mean transit time averaged 49.0 + 9.5 h, peak = 27.3 + 3.6 h, and 5 to 95 retention time = 16.0 + 0.0 h to 82.7 + 18.1 h. Mean transit was longer in the greater mouse deer compared with previously published data for the lesser mouse deer Tragulus javanicus. Additionally, measured digestive capability in the greater mouse deer appeared superior to that of domestic sheep on the same fibre level
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