Influence of diet transition on serum calcium and phosphorus in captive giraffe

Citation

Koutsos E, Armstong D, Ball R, Dikeman C, Hetherington J, Simmons L, Valdes E, Griffin M. 2007. Influence of diet transition on serum calcium and phosphorus in captive giraffe. In Ward A, Hunt A, Maslanka M, Eds. Proceedings of the Seventh Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Knoxville, TN.

Abstract

Pathology in captive giraffe is relatively common and has often been attributed to nutritional causes. It was hypothesized that reducing dietary starch and phosphorus (P) would change serum mineral concentrations to be more in line with typical mammalian values. Captive giraffe (n=6, Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha NE), previously fed a commercially available diet, were transitioned to a reduced starch diet for one year (2005). Following the Giraffe Nutrition Workshop recommendations, another diet transition was made (2006).

Koutsos – EFFECT OF DIET TRANSITION ON SERUM CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS IN CAPTIVE GIRAFFE.pdf     349 KB