Estimation of dry matter intake of free-ranging moose

Two free-ranging moose (Alces alces) cows were used to study seasonal changes in voluntary intake between December 1982 and January 1984. Observations of each animal were made during a continuous 24-hour period every 6-8 weeks. Dry matter intake was estimated from the ratio of total dry matter in th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of wildlife management 1985-01, Vol.49 (3), p.785-792
Main Authors: Renecker, L.A, Hudson, R.J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ALBERTA
ALCE
Alces alces
Animal digestion
Animals
BOSQUES
COMPORTEMENT ALIMENTAIRE
CONTENIDO DE MATERIA SECA
Diet
Digestion
DRY MATTER CONTENT
Dry matter intake
ELAN
ELKS
ESTACIONES DEL ANO
Estimation methods
Feed intake
FEEDING HABITS
Forage
FOREST LITTER
FORESTS
FORET
HABITOS ALIMENTARIOS
HOJARASCA FORESTAL
LITIERE FORESTIERE
Nitrogen
PERIODICIDAD
PERIODICITE
PERIODICITY
Ruminants
SAISON
SEASONS
TENEUR EN MATIERE SECHE
WILD ANIMALS
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Summary:Two free-ranging moose (Alces alces) cows were used to study seasonal changes in voluntary intake between December 1982 and January 1984. Observations of each animal were made during a continuous 24-hour period every 6-8 weeks. Dry matter intake was estimated from the ratio of total dry matter in the feces to the percent indigestibility of dietary dry matter and from the bite-count technique. During the 1-year period, dry matter intake ranged from 37.8 g/kg$\text{BW}^{0.75}$in January to 128.5 g/kg$\text{BW}^{0.75}$during July. The bite-count technique estimated voluntary intakes which were within 6% of those calculated from total fecal collections. Dry matter digestibility of selected diets ranged from 71% in late May to 44% in late January as estimated by the in situ nylon bag technique. Crude protein content in the feces was correlated (P < 0.05) with digestible dry matter intake (r2=0.88) and with the nitrogen content of simulated diets (r2=0.95). Nylon bag dry matter digestibility of simulated diets was highly correlated (P < 0.001) with diet dry matter (r2=0.73), crude protein (r2=0.69), and neutral detergent fiber (r2=0.90). The maintenance energy requirement for a free-ranging moose cow, estimated by least squares linear regression, was 399 KJ/kg$\text{BW}^{0.75}$daily.
ISSN:0022-541X
1937-2817
DOI:10.2307/3801712