The objectives were to determine the apparent energy digestibility of six pasture species frequently grazed by European wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) and to estimate the digestible energy (DE) consumption from pasture by grazing wild boar. Seven diets were prepared; a base diet (BD) which did not contain any pasture species, diets D1 to D5 which included 75% of the BD and 25% of the dried pasture species Lolium perenne (D1), Festuca arundinacea (D2), Agrostis capillaris (D3), Bromus staminius (D4) or Trifolium repens (D5) and D6 which contained 85% BD and 15% dried Plantago lanceolata. Seven purebred European wild boar (initial liveweight 24.4 ± 0.8 kg, average ± SEM) were given access to the diets following a Latin Square design. The animals received each diet for eight days, with faecal sampling on days 6, 7 and 8. The total apparent DE consumption from pasture by grazing wild boar was estimated using previously collected pasture consumption data from wild boar. The digestibility coefficients and DE contents of the pasture species ranged from 0.29 to 0.65, and 5.8 to 12.6 MJ/kg DM respectively, with L. perenne and P. lanceolata having the greatest digestibility coefficients and DE contents. The wild boar were estimated to satisfy between 52% and 142% of their maintenance energy requirements through pasture consumption. Grazing wild boar are able to utilise an important proportion of the energy present in pasture species.
The growth rate of farmed European wild boars (Sus scrofa L.) is perceived to be very slow. However, there is no available information on the genetic potential of these animals in terms of potential lean tissue growth.The aim of the study was to determine the maximum capacity for protein deposition (operational PDmax) in wild boars under controlled environmental conditions. Four diets were formulated containing different levels of digestible energy (DE): 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, and 2.8 Mcal DE kg -1 . All of the diets contained at least 5 g lysine per Mcal DE. Twenty purebred wild boars from a commercial farm of the same age (± 4 d) and with an initial liveweight of 27 ± 0.50 kg (mean ± standard error of the mean) were used in the study. At the beginning of the study (day 1), four animals were sacrificed and the carcasses were frozen without the digestive tract contents. The remaining animals were divided in foursomes and received each of the four diets over a 28-d period; they were then sacrificed and the carcasses were frozen without the digestive tract contents. All of the carcasses were ground and analyzed for DM, crude protein, ether extract, and ash. Protein deposition of the animals sacrificed on day 28 was determined as the difference between crude protein content estimated for the animals on day 1 using data from the animals sacrificed on day 1 and protein content of animals sacrificed on day 28. It was not possible to determine PDmax due to the genetic heterogeneity of the animals. Further studies on PDmax in wild boars must be carried out following genetic selection and breeding to produce more homogeneous animals.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.