Protein, calcium and phosphorus requirements in the maintenance of captive-bred capybaras

Abstract

-The objective was to determine the nitrogen-protein, calcium and phosphorus requirements of adult capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) bred in captivity through a nutritional balance study under conditions that favored the occurrence of cecotrophy. In a completely randomized design with four replicates per treatment, 16 adult female capybaras were fed isocaloric diets containing four levels of nitrogen (11.4, 12.3, 15.4 and 18.4 g N/kg dry matter-DM); calcium (3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 g Ca/kg-DM); and phosphorus (2.0, 2.3, 2.7 and 3.0 g P/kg-DM). After 10 days of adaptation, the collection of feces was carried out for five consecutive days. Immediately following fecal collection, the animals were housed in metabolic cages for two days for urine collection. During the fecal collection, capybaras were observed to perform on average 0.32±0.27 cecotrophy acts per hour. Regression analyses allowed for estimating daily requirements of 0.25 g digestible nitrogen/kg LW 0.75 , which equals 1.56 g of digestible protein/kg LW 0.75 . Likewise, the available calcium and phosphorus requirements in 0.30 g Ca/kg LW 0.75 and 0.15 g P/kg LW 0.75 were estimated. The requirements of digestible nitrogen, as well as those of available calcium and phosphorus for the maintenance of capybaras are lower than those of domestic and other wild animal species with zootechnical potential.

Digestive physiology of captive capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

“… c References; R1: present study, R2: González‐Jiménez (), R4: Ferreira et al (), R5: Nogueira‐Filho, Carvalho, et al (), R7: Bernardi (), R8: Ojasti ().…”

Nutrition of Six Selected Neo-Tropical Mammals in Trinidad and Tobago with the Potential for Domestication

“…When compared to other livestock, their digestibility of the same feedstuff was higher, which could be due to their anatomical and physiological characteristics [ 51 ]. Lower levels of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus caused decreased weight gains and the levels of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus required for maintenance of the capybara was lower than those required by other species [ 52 ]. Capybaras suffered from scurvy, as, during vitamin C deprivation they displayed signs of scurvy, such as broken or loss of incisors, gingivitis and even one death, which started 25–104 days after deprivation.…”

“…The capybara is the largest mammalian herbivore to practice coprophagy [ 58 ] and/or caecotrophy [ 52 ]. Caecotrophy was observed, more so in the mornings than at nights; animals sat on their hindlimbs and extended either one of them.…”

Added dietary vegetables and fruits improved coat quality of capybara in Seoul Zoo, Republic of Korea: A case study

“…Coprophagy in capybara is variable and appears to correlate with diet quality, particularly fibrosity. Gonzalez‐Jimenez and Escobar [] reported no evidence of coprophagy in captive animals fed high quality diets, whereas Herrera [] and Borges et al [] did observe coprophagy in wild capybara, and more recently Nogueira‐Filho et al [] clearly documented cecotrophy in captive capybaras. Management parameters and/or captive diets may, in fact, impact this behavior and associated physiology and nutrition.…”

“…Dietary crude protein (CP) requirements of guinea pigs presented in Table represent values for growing guinea pigs. Adult animals need less protein than young or growing animals, and the protein requirement for adult capybara (1.56 g digestible protein BW 0.75 , equivalent to 14.7 g for a 20‐kg animal) can be met by considerably less than 18% dietary CP [Nogueira‐Filho et al, ]; thus protein quality (with or without added coprophagy/cecotrophy) was felt to be adequate.…”