Studies on feed digestibilities in captive Asian elephants (<i>Elephas maximus</i>)

Clauss, Marcus; Loehlein, W; Kienzle, Ellen; Wiesner, Henning

doi:10.1046/j.1439-0396.2003.00429.x

Cited by 75 publications

(99 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Caanitz et al (1991) also observed no effect of exercise on feed intake in horses. The DMI observed in present study was higher than that recorded by Clauss et al (2003) in adult Asian elephants fed hay-based diets. In this experiment, sugarcane was the primary ingredient which is relished by elephants (Lihong et al 2007).…”

Section: Feed Consumption Nutrient Intake and Apparent Digestibilitycontrasting

confidence: 80%

Influence of work on nutrient utilisation in semicaptive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Katole

Das

Agarwal

et al. 2014

Journal of Applied Animal Research

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Two feeding trials were conducted to evaluate the feed consumption, nutrient utilisation, blood biochemical and faecal microbial profile of working and nonworking semicaptive Asian elephant. During each trial, six captive elephants were placed in two groups of three each. Elephants in one group performed the scheduled work at the park, i.e., 4-h safari with tourists, while the other group performed no work. During nighttime, all the elephants were kept in respective individual enclosure so that feed consumption and faeces voided could be measured accurately. During day time, all the elephants were allowed to forage in nearby forest. Intake (kg/d) of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) and sugarcane leaves was more (P < 0.01) in nonworking elephants as compared to working elephants. Working elephants consumed more (P < 0.01) forages during foraging than nonworking elephants. Average daily dry matter intake (DMI) and DMI (% body weight, BW) were comparable between the groups. Apparent digestibility (%) of DM, OM, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), hemicellulose, cellulose and gross energy (GE) were higher (P < 0.01) in working than nonworking elephants. Activity of ALT (IU/l) was higher in working as compared to nonworking elephants. The relative population of Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens and total fungi were numerically increased in working elephants as compared to nonworking elephants. It was concluded that 4 h of work has no adverse impact on food consumption and blood metabolite profile of semicaptive Asian elephants; rather it improved the digestibility of nutrients. Work showed positive effect in restricting the calorie supply closer to requirement.

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Section: Feed Consumption Nutrient Intake and Apparent Digestibilitycontrasting

confidence: 80%

Influence of work on nutrient utilisation in semicaptive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Katole

Das

Agarwal

et al. 2014

Journal of Applied Animal Research

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“…The few reports available indicate that elephants resemble the equine species with reference to calcium status 4,20,41 as elephants absorb calcium almost unlimitedly from the intestines similar to the horse and in contrast to the bovine species. 8,32 On the other hand, high urinary calcium concentrations have also been reported in captive elephants 29 similar to the equine species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

EFFECT OF CALCIUM AND CHOLECALCIFEROL SUPPLEMENTATION ON SEVERAL PARAMETERS OF CALCIUM STATUS IN PLASMA AND URINE OF CAPTIVE ASIAN (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS) AND AFRICAN ELEPHANTS (LOXODONTA AFRICANA)

Sonsbeek¹,

Kolk²,

Leeuwen³

et al. 2013

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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Abstract:The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of oral calcium and cholecalciferol supplementation on several parameters of calcium status in plasma and urine of captive Asian (Elephas maximus; n ¼ 10) and African elephants (Loxodonta africana; n ¼ 6) and to detect potential species differences. Calcium and cholecalciferol supplementation were investigated in a feeding trial using a crossover design consisting of five periods of 28 days each in summer. From days 28-56 (period 2), elephants were fed the Ca-supplemented diet and from days 84-112, elephants were fed the cholecalciferol-supplemented diet (period 4). The control diet was fed during the other periods and was based on their regular ration, and the study was repeated similarly during winter. Periods 1, 3, and 5 were regarded as washout periods. This study revealed species-specific differences with reference to calcium and cholecalciferol supplementation. Asian elephants showed a significant increase in mean plasma total calcium concentration following calcium supplementation during summer, suggesting summerassociated subclinical hypocalcemia in Western Europe. During winter, no effect was seen after oral calcium supplementation, but a significant increase was seen both in mean plasma, total, and ionized calcium concentrations after cholecalciferol supplementation in Asian elephants. In contrast, evidence of subclinical hypocalcemia could be demonstrated neither in summer nor in winter in African elephants, although 28 days of cholecalciferol supplementation during winter reversed the decrease in plasma 1,25(OH)2-cholecalciferol and was followed by a significant increase in mean plasma total calcium concentration. Preliminary findings indicate that the advisable permanent daily intake for calcium in Asian elephants and cholecalciferol in both elephant species at least during winter might be higher than current guidelines. It is strongly recommended to monitor blood calcium concentrations and, if available, blood parathyroid hormone levels to adjust the nutritional supplementation for each individual elephant.

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“…The absolute value is derived from the calculation based on digestibility trials with domestic horses. While the digestive efficiency of horses is similar to some other large hindgut fermenters, such as the white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) (Kiefer, 2002) and Indian rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) (Clauss et al, 2005a), it was demonstrated that the horse is not an adequate model for digestion in elephants (Clauss et al, 2003) or black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) . As browsers, tapirs could be expected to actually achieve lower digestion coefficients on comparable diets than horses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet composition, food intake, body condition, and fecal consistency in captive tapirs (Tapirus spp.) in UK collections

et al. 2009

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Intake measurements were carried out in 22 tapirs from seven UK zoological collections. Dry matter intake (DMI) ranged from 48 to 86 g/kg0.75/d. Across collections, the highest proportion of the ingested diet consisted of pelleted feeds (including grains and bread) at 46 ± 17 %DMI, followed by commercial produce at 26 ± 12 %DMI, roughage (excluding browse) at 17 ± 11 %DMI, and browse at 11±11 %DMI. The proportion of roughage, crude protein, crude fiber and neutral detergent fiber levels in the diets investigated were well below levels recommended for domestic horses and other ungulates. Intakes of digestible energy as estimated from food nutrients using of a standard equation for domestic horses ranged from 0.58 to 0.88 MJ DE/kg0.75/d, with many individuals exceeding the assumed maintenance requirement of 0.6 MJ DE/kg0.75/d for hindgut fermenters. At values exceeding this DE intake, animals had higher than ideal body condition scores (BCS). Animals with higher BCS (i.e. more obese animals) generally had higher fecal scores (FS) (i.e. softer feces), and both BCS and FS were positively correlated to DMI and calculated DE intake. This suggests that the population studied was generally overfed, with resulting obesity and softer fecal consistency. The use of highly digestible feeds such as commercial produce and pelleted feeds should be restricted in the diets of these animals and roughage intake promoted in order to attempt to achieve normal BCS and FS in this captive population. At values exceeding this DE intake, animals had higher than ideal body condition scores (BCS). Animals with higher BCS (i.e. more obese animals) generally had higher fecal scores (FS) (i.e. softer feces), and both BCS and FS were positively correlated to DMI and calculated DE intake. This suggests that the population studied was generally overfed, with resulting obesity and softer fecal consistency. The use of highly digestible feeds such as commercial produce and pelleted feeds should be restricted in the diets of these animals and roughage intake promoted in order to attempt to achieve normal BCS and FS in this captive population.

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Studies on feed digestibilities in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Cited by 75 publications

References 21 publications

Influence of work on nutrient utilisation in semicaptive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Influence of work on nutrient utilisation in semicaptive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

EFFECT OF CALCIUM AND CHOLECALCIFEROL SUPPLEMENTATION ON SEVERAL PARAMETERS OF CALCIUM STATUS IN PLASMA AND URINE OF CAPTIVE ASIAN (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS) AND AFRICAN ELEPHANTS (LOXODONTA AFRICANA)

Diet composition, food intake, body condition, and fecal consistency in captive tapirs (Tapirus spp.) in UK collections

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