The effects of age, sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic Asian elephant
Limited data are available on the relationship between seasonal diets and macronutrient and energy intake of domestic Asian elephants. The effects of age, sex and season on the nutrient composition and intake of food were investigated using 16 domesticated Asian elephants of different ages and sexes...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Applied Animal Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2018.1552589 |
| _version_ | 1828399572920041472 |
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| author | Raj Kumar Koirala Weihong Ji Prawesh Paudel Sean C. P. Coogan Jessica M. Rothman David Raubenheimer |
| author_facet | Raj Kumar Koirala Weihong Ji Prawesh Paudel Sean C. P. Coogan Jessica M. Rothman David Raubenheimer |
| author_sort | Raj Kumar Koirala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Limited data are available on the relationship between seasonal diets and macronutrient and energy intake of domestic Asian elephants. The effects of age, sex and season on the nutrient composition and intake of food were investigated using 16 domesticated Asian elephants of different ages and sexes. There were no significant seasonal differences in the protein content of the major food plants. However, a seasonal variation in the intake of protein was evident. We used geometric modelling of non-protein (NP) neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and protein to examine seasonal nutrient variability within different ages, sexes and physiological states. The model suggested that most individual elephants maintained their recommended metabolizable energy intake from their diet across all seasons. However, we had anticipated less energy intake from poor diet due to less protein and higher NDF in the feeding ground during winter, pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. Despite eating a lower variety of plants with less protein and higher NDF, elephants maintained a consistent pattern of diet intake in these seasons, suggesting that they acquired the recommended energy intake by regulating their diet, most likely through over-ingesting low-quality, non-complementary food as they did not have the opportunity to select from a variety of plants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:19:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-570b9c84652b4530aa3172465cc86d9a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0971-2119 0974-1844 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:19:37Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Applied Animal Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-570b9c84652b4530aa3172465cc86d9a2022-12-22T01:54:44ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Applied Animal Research0971-21190974-18442019-01-0147151610.1080/09712119.2018.15525891552589The effects of age, sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic Asian elephantRaj Kumar Koirala0Weihong Ji1Prawesh Paudel2Sean C. P. Coogan3Jessica M. Rothman4David Raubenheimer5Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey UniversityInstitute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey UniversityKathmandu Forestry CollegeDepartment of Renewable Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of AlbertaDepartment of Anthropology, Hunter College, City University of New YorkThe Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of SydneyLimited data are available on the relationship between seasonal diets and macronutrient and energy intake of domestic Asian elephants. The effects of age, sex and season on the nutrient composition and intake of food were investigated using 16 domesticated Asian elephants of different ages and sexes. There were no significant seasonal differences in the protein content of the major food plants. However, a seasonal variation in the intake of protein was evident. We used geometric modelling of non-protein (NP) neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and protein to examine seasonal nutrient variability within different ages, sexes and physiological states. The model suggested that most individual elephants maintained their recommended metabolizable energy intake from their diet across all seasons. However, we had anticipated less energy intake from poor diet due to less protein and higher NDF in the feeding ground during winter, pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. Despite eating a lower variety of plants with less protein and higher NDF, elephants maintained a consistent pattern of diet intake in these seasons, suggesting that they acquired the recommended energy intake by regulating their diet, most likely through over-ingesting low-quality, non-complementary food as they did not have the opportunity to select from a variety of plants.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2018.1552589asian elephantsmacronutrientdry matter intake (dmi)geometric modellingnon-protein (np) energyneutral detergent fibre (ndf) |
| spellingShingle | Raj Kumar Koirala Weihong Ji Prawesh Paudel Sean C. P. Coogan Jessica M. Rothman David Raubenheimer The effects of age, sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic Asian elephant Journal of Applied Animal Research asian elephants macronutrient dry matter intake (dmi) geometric modelling non-protein (np) energy neutral detergent fibre (ndf) |
| title | The effects of age, sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic Asian elephant |
| title_full | The effects of age, sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic Asian elephant |
| title_fullStr | The effects of age, sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic Asian elephant |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of age, sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic Asian elephant |
| title_short | The effects of age, sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic Asian elephant |
| title_sort | effects of age sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic asian elephant |
| topic | asian elephants macronutrient dry matter intake (dmi) geometric modelling non-protein (np) energy neutral detergent fibre (ndf) |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2018.1552589 |
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