Effect of Different Protein Levels on the Performance and Apparent Protein Digestibility of Orphan Calves of Amazonian Manatees (Trichechus inunguis)

Citation

Mendoza P, Riveros R, Vilchez C. 2017. Effect of Different Protein Levels on the Performance and Apparent Protein Digestibility of Orphan Calves of Amazonian Manatees (Trichechus inunguis). In Ward A, Coslik A, Brooks M Eds. Proceedings of the Twelfth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation and AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Frisco, TX.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of four dietary crude protein (CP) levels, provided by mixing two commercial milk replacers, on the performance and protein apparent digestibility of captive orphan calves of Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis). Four individuals (two males and two females), with an average weight of 28.95 kg and 8.75 months-old in average were used. The dietary treatments were: Diet 1 (7.22 g CP), Diet 2 (9.77 g CP), Diet 3 (12.25 g CP) and Diet 4 (14.88 g CP). Each animal received one of each diet during 14 d period with a 7 d adaptation period between diets. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion were recorded. Chromium oxide was used to determine apparent protein digestibility; additionally, the protein content of manatee’s milk was determined.  Registered data was analyzed under 4×4 Latin Square Design and mean comparisons were performed using the statistical software IBM SPSS 24.0. The results showed that feed intake and weight gain were not influenced (P>0.05) by the dietary treatments; however, the lowest feed conversion corresponded to Diet 3, which was different (P<0.05) from Diet 1 but it was not (P>0.05) from D2 or Diet 4. The highest apparent protein digestibility corresponded to Diet 4 and the protein content of manatee’s milk was 9.70%. In conclusion, orphan calves of manatees can be fed with different proportions of commercial milk replacers without affecting their performances.

[Yengle] Pierina Mendoza EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PROTEIN LEVELS ON THE PERFORMANCE AND APPARENT PROTEIN DIGESTIBILITY OF ORPHAN CALVES OF AMAZONIAN MANATEES 28Trichechus inunguis 29 281 29.pdf     2 MB