Apparent digestibility of macronutrients in captive babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa).
The apparent digestibilities of macronutrients by babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) were measured. Three group-housed captive babirusa were fed a diet of pelleted feed, boiled potatoes, grains, vegetables, and fruits. To determine reproducibility of the results, two digestibility trials were conducted 5 wk apart. The apparent digestibilities for crude protein, crude fat, and nonstructural carbohydrates (nitrogen-free extract) were 71, 76, and 78% of intake, respectively. Average apparent digestibilities of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber were 62 and 19% of intake, respectively. Hemicellulose (neutral detergent fiber minus acid detergent fiber) digestibility was 75%. Cellulose digestibility on average was 19% of intake, i.e., identical to acid detergent fiber digestibility because the diet did not contain a detectable amount of acid detergent lignin.
Van Wees
S
S
Royal Rotterdam Zoological and Botanical Gardens, The Netherlands.
Nujboer
J
J
Everts
H
H
Beynen
A C
AC
D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000378:metabolism; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004063:Digestion; D007214:Indonesia; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000378:metabolism*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; C007916:hemicellulose