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.
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1 December 2000
APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY OF MACRONUTRIENTS IN CAPTIVE BABIRUSA (BABYROUSA BABYRUSSA)
S. Van Wees,
J. Nujboer,
H. Everts,
A. C. Beynen
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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 31 • No. 4
December 2000
Vol. 31 • No. 4
December 2000
Babirusa
Babyrousa babyrussa
carbohydrates
crude fat
crude protein
energy
fiber