Ability of Different Rumen Inocula to Digest Range Forages

Welch, Bruce L.; Pederson, Jordan C.; Clary, Warren P.

doi:10.2307/3808630

Cited by 26 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Sagebrush and juniper were the main forage species available from late December through early March. Winter estimates of in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) are 40À48% for Utah juniper (Bunderson et al 1986, Welch 1989), 45À65% for big sagebrush (Ward 1971, Kufeld et al 1981, Welch and Pederson 1981, Welch 1989, and 53% for black sagebrush (Welch et al 1983, Welch 1989. Winter estimates of CP range from 6À12% for these same species (Welch 1989, Wambolt 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Enhanced Nutrition on Mule Deer Population Rate of Change

Bishop

White

Freddy

et al. 2009

Wildlife Monographs

132

212

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Concerns over declining mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations during the 1990s prompted research efforts to identify and understand key limiting factors of deer. Similar to past deer declines, a top priority of state wildlife agencies was to evaluate the relative importance of habitat and predation. We therefore evaluated the effect of enhanced nutrition of deer during winter and spring on fecundity and survival rates using a life table response experiment involving free‐ranging mule deer on the Uncompahgre Plateau in southwest Colorado, USA. The treatment represented an instantaneous increase in nutritional carrying capacity of a pinyon (Pinus edulis)—Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) winter range and was intended to simulate optimum habitat quality. Prior studies on the Uncompahgre Plateau indicated predation and disease were the most common proximate causes of deer mortality. By manipulating nutrition and leaving natural predation unaltered, we determined whether habitat quality was ultimately a critical factor limiting the deer population. We measured annual survival and fecundity of adult females and survival of fawns, then estimated population rate of change as a function of enhanced nutrition. Pregnancy and fetal rates of adult females were high and did not vary in response to treatment. Fetal and neonatal survival rates increased in response to treatment, although the treatment effect on neonatal survival was marginal. Overwinter rates of fawn survival increased for treatment deer by 0.16–0.31 depending on year and fawn sex, and none of the 95% confidence intervals associated with the effects overlapped zero. Overwinter rates of fawn survival averaged 0.905 (SE = 0.026) for treatment deer and 0.684 (SE = 0.044) for control deer. Nutritional enhancement increased survival rates of fetuses to the yearling age class by 0.14–0.20 depending on year and fawn sex; 95% confidence intervals slightly overlapped zero. When averaging estimates across sexes and years, treatment caused fetal to yearling survival to increase by 0.177 (SE = 0.082, 95% CI: 0.016–0.337). Annual survival of adult females receiving treatment (Ś = 0.879, SE = 0.021) was higher than survival of control adult females (Ś = 0.833, SE = 0.025). Our estimate of the population rate of change (λ) was 1.165 (SE = 0.036) for treatment deer and 1.033 (SE = 0.038) for control deer. Increased production and survival of young (i.e., fetal, neonatal, and overwinter fawn survival) accounted for 64% of the overall increase in λ, whereas adult female survival accounted for 36% of the increase in λ. The effect of nutrition treatment on overwinter fawn survival alone accounted for 33% of the overall increase in λ. We documented food limitation in the Uncompahgre deer population because survival of fawns and adult females increased considerably in response to enhanced nutrition. We found strong evidence that enhanced nutrition of deer reduced coyote (Canis latrans) and mountain lion (Puma concolor) predation rates of ≥6‐month‐old fawns and adult...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Enhanced Nutrition on Mule Deer Population Rate of Change

Bishop

White

Freddy

et al. 2009

Wildlife Monographs

132

212

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“…Our estimates of bitterbrush IVDMD were considerably lower than 50% in all cases. This was expected based on previous winter estimates of bitterbrush IVDMD, which have ranged from 16.3 to 33.2% (Ward 1971, Urness et al 1977, Welch and Pederson 1981, Welch et al 1983a, 1983b, Welch and Wagstaff 1992. Our estimates of bitterbrush CP met the approximate 5-7% minimum CP requirement for deer maintenance (Einarson 1946, Dietz 1965, Murphy and Coates 1966, Holter et al 1979.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…The rumen inoculum source for the estimation of digestibility was obtained from Hereford-crossbred cows maintained on an alfalfa/barley diet. Welch et al (1983b) found that different sources of rumen inocula, from both domestic and wild ruminants on different diets, similarly digested a wide variety of forages. Also, forage samples tend to be ranked correctly in terms of relative quality when different inocula sources are used (Robbins et al 1975).…”

Section: Determination Of Ivdmd and Cpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bitterbrush and cheatgrass quality on 3 southwest Idaho winter ranges

Bishop¹,

Garton²,

Unsworth³

2001

REM

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Nutritional stress is an important mortality factor for wintering mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus Rafinesque), particularly fawns. The rate at which fawns utilize existing fat stores is at least partially dependent upon the quality of available forage during winter. Although numerous studies have determined the nutritive value of various forage species, more research is needed to determine whether individual forage species vary in quality across the landscape. We determined whether differences existed in the nutritional quality of antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata [Pursh] DC.) and cheatgrass brome (Bromus tectorum L.) among 3 winter ranges and 6 habitats within the winter ranges. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of bitterbrush varied among winter ranges in 1996 and 1997 (P < 0.001). The highest mean IVDMD measured on a winter range was 29.8% (n = 36, SD = 3.87) in 1997 while the lowest was 15.2% (n = 38, SD = 4.42) in 1996. Bitterbrush crude protein (CP) was different among habitats in 1997 (P = 0.005), with mean CP values ranging from 7.0% (n = 19, SD = 0.73) to 8.0% (n = 13, SD = 0.70). The length and diameter of available bitterbrush leaders varied within and among winter ranges because of differential utilization. Bitterbrush IVDMD and CP varied in relation to the mean diameter of leaders obtained from each random sampling site (P < 0.001). The quality of bitterbrush decreased as browse intensity increased. Cheatgrass IVDMD was different between winter ranges (P < 0.001) in 1996, with mean values ranging from 65.8% (n = 36, SD = 4.34) to 69.6% (n = 36, SD = 3.83). Site-specific variation should be considered when evaluating the nutritional quality of mule deer habitat, at least during winter when species diversity in deer diets is limited. Key Words: nutritional quality, mule deer, in vitro dry matter digestibility, crude protein, Purshia tridentata, Bromus tectorumWinter malnutrition is a common cause of mortality for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus Rafinesque) fawns, particularly during severe winters. Nutritionally stressed fawns are also more susceptible to other proximal causes of mortality. Since mule deer largely depend on pre-winter fat stores to meet energy requirements during winter, over-winter fawn survival is often determined by the duration and severity of winter (Wallmo et al. 1977, Torbit et al. 1985. Nutritional stress arises from a lack of necessary quality in forage to sustain mule deer through winter (Wallmo et al. 1977). Although nutritional maintenance requirements are rarely met, differences in the nutritive value of the forage may be very important. Deer selecting higher quality diets should deplete existing fat stores more slowly, thereby increasing the probability of survival. ResumenEl estrés nutricional es un factor importante de mortalidad invernal en los venados (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus Rafinesque), particularmente para los cervatos. La tasa a la cual los cervatos utilizan las reservas existentes de grasa es parcialmente dependiente ...

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“…I used rumen inoculum from a cow rather than from a caribou because in several studies of digestibilities of forages utilized by wild herbivores, the use of a domestic ruminant as the inoculum source had given very reliable results (Palmer et al., 1976;Palmer and Cowan, 1980;Welch et al, 1983;Brooks and Urness, 1984;Crawford and Hankinson, 1984). A single domestic inoculum source also reduces the variability of the rumen fluid caused by the use of several donors feeding on different diets (Clary et al, 1988;Pehrson and Faber, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Vitro Digestibilities of Summer Forages Utilized by the Rivière George Caribou Herd

Côté¹

1998

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. The Rivière George caribou herd (northern Québec-Labrador, Canada) is thought to be regulated by forage limitations in its summer range. In such a situation, digestibilities of plants may strongly affect the diet choice and physical condition of animals. In vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of the most important summer forages of the Rivière George caribou herd was determined during fermentation periods of 12, 24, and 48 h using rumen fluid collected from a Holstein cow. IVDMD values for Cyperaceae (Eriophorum angustifolium and Carex rariflora), and shrubs (Betula glandulosa and Vaccinium uliginosum) collected in July and August were higher for long fermentation periods (48 h) than for shorter ones (12 and 24 h). Plants collected in early summer were also more digestible than those collected in late summer. Contrary to my prediction, both Cyperaceae were more digestible than the two shrubs in mid-July. However, no difference occurred in early August. The fermentation period did not affect the IVDMD of lichens; maximum digestibility was attained after 12 h. Alectoria ochroleuca and Cetraria spp. were more digestible than Cladina rangiferina, Cladina stellaris, and Stereocaulon paschale, likely because of their lower fibre content. These results suggest that the preference of caribou for Cladina spp. is not based on digestibility, but probably on the fact that these species are abundant in the Rivière George area. Variations in IVDMD seem to be explained by plant phenology, because longer fermentation periods were necessary to attain a high level of digestibility as summer progressed. Plant digestibility alone cannot explain caribou summer diet. Other variables such as plant constituents (e.g., protein) and relative abundance must also be considered.Key words: caribou, Cyperaceae, digestibility, fermentation, foraging ecology, in vitro, lichens, nutrition, Québec, Rangifer tarandus RÉSUMÉ. Il a été suggéré que l'abondance du troupeau de caribous de la rivière George (Québec nordique-Labrador, au Canada) était régulée par la disponibilité de nourriture dans les habitats d'été. Dans un tel système, la digestibilité des plantes peut affecter de façon importante le régime alimentaire et la condition physique des animaux. La disparition in vitro de la matière sèche (DIVMS) des principales espèces végétales composant la nourriture estivale des caribous de la rivière George a été déterminée durant des périodes de fermentation de 12, 24 et 48 heures, à l'aide de jus de rumen provenant d'une vache Holstein. Les valeurs de DIVMS des cypéracées (Eriophorum angustifolium et Carex rariflora) et des arbustes (Betula glandulosa et Vaccinium uliginosum) récoltés en juillet et août étaient plus élevées pour de longues périodes de fermentation (48 heures) que pour de courtes périodes (12 et 24 heures). Les plantes récoltées tôt durant l'été étaient aussi plus digestes que celles récoltées tard. Contrairement aux prédictions, les deux espèces de cypéracées étaient plus digestes que les deux espèces d'arbustes à la mi-...

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Ability of Different Rumen Inocula to Digest Range Forages

Cited by 26 publications

References 11 publications

Effect of Enhanced Nutrition on Mule Deer Population Rate of Change

Effect of Enhanced Nutrition on Mule Deer Population Rate of Change

Bitterbrush and cheatgrass quality on 3 southwest Idaho winter ranges

In Vitro Digestibilities of Summer Forages Utilized by the Rivière George Caribou Herd

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