Hand‐rearing and assisted‐rearing aardvarks in captivity has become commonplace and has led to success in breeding the species. However, the macronutrient content of aardvark milk past 1 month of age is unknown. A better understanding of aardvark milk composition would enhance captive management efforts. Here, we assayed milk samples from two captive individuals from 2 to 114 days postpartum (N = 21) for dry matter, fat, crude protein, total sugar, ash (total minerals), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and gross energy. The body weight of one calf was measured from birth to weaning. Milk macronutrient composition was compared to that of other Afrotherian species and Xenarthra species with similar diets. Average protein, fat, and sugar concentrations of aardvark milk across lactation were 12.3%, 13.6%, and 2.5%, respectively. Ash averaged 1.9%, with Ca (0.50%) and P (0.35%) accounting for about 45% of total minerals. All measured nutrients increased over lactation except sugar, which decreased. Aardvark milk is high in energy (2.12 kcal/g) mostly derived from fat and protein and little energy from sugar. Calf growth was linear (r2 = 0.995) with a mean gain of 159 g/day, achieving almost 30% of adult weight at weaning. Within Afrotheria, aardvark milk is higher in fat and protein and lower in sugar than elephant milk and more closely resembles the milk of its fellow insectivore, the elephant shrew. Aardvark milk is also similar in composition to milk of insectivorous Xenarthra species (nine‐banded armadillo and giant anteater). Aardvark milk composition is consistent with the species’ high‐protein diet, fast growth, and nursing pattern.
Non-human New World primates are recognized as particularly susceptible to metabolic bone disease. Improper UV light exposure and/or insufficient dietary levels of vitamin D can lead to poor bone development and skeletal mineralization deficits. This report documents the clinical progression of rickets, a type of metabolic bone disease, in a whitefaced saki (Pithecia pithecia), presenting the first documented case, to our knowledge, of this condition in this primate species. Because inconsistent feeding habits and seasonality are believed to have contributed to the development of rickets in this individual, adequate UV light exposure and adequate levels of dietary vitamin D are important considerations for individuals housed indoors and during periods of growth, ensuring adequate calcium regulation and prevention of sequela associated with low calcium and vitamin D levels. Through a multi-faceted approach targeting medical, dietary, and husbandry changes, primate species exhibiting signs of metabolic bone diseases can be successfully managed to allow for a good quality of life.
In January 2017, a Nile hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) was born approximately six weeks premature at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Due to the calf's weakened condition and lack of interest from the dam, management at the zoo made the decision to hand‐rear the calf. Limited published information was available on hand‐rearing this species of hippopotamus (hippo). To devise a nutritionally appropriate recipe, milk samples were acquired from the dam on Days 1, 3, 8, and 9 postpartum, and assayed for sugar, protein, fat, mineral, and water content using standard methods validated for multiple species of mammals at the Smithsonian National Zoo's Nutrition Science Laboratory. The sugar content stayed relatively constant (mean = 4.5%; range: 4.3%–4.7%). The fat consistently increased from 0.48% to 4.24% (mean = 2%). Excluding Day 9, the protein content gradually decreased from 9.56% to 6.39% (mean = 8%). The dry matter (DM) ranged from 14.38% to 16.72% (i.e., water content of 85.62%–83.28%), with the sum of the solids (sugar, protein, fat, and ash) averaging 98.5% of measured DM. Fat content was lower than expected but within the range of other artiodactyls. Between Days 1 and 8, the trend of decreasing protein and increasing fat was consistent with a change from colostrum to mature milk. The sharp increase in fat and protein with a decrease in sugar on Day 9 may indicate the beginning of the involution of the mammary gland due to lack of nursing stimulus. Utilizing this information, the Cincinnati Zoo was able to formulate a successful milk replacement recipe that allowed the calf to be raised through weaning to maturity.
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