FEED-INTAKE AND DIGESTION IN THE MANED WOLF (CHRYSOCYON-BRACHYURUS) - CONSEQUENCES FOR DIETARY-MANAGEMENT
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Captive maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) often consume diets high in prey and meat items even though they are omnivorous in the wild. These soft, high protein diets may exacerbate conditions of gingivitis and cystinuria in this species. Feed intakes were monitored in wolves provided with prey and meatbased diets (3 periods) and subsequently with extruded dog chows and small amounts of prey (2 periods). Digestibilities of each type of diet were measured with the indigestible marker chromic oxide. Dry matter intakes were similar between diets (374584 g 30 kg1 d1), even though dietary protein content was reduced from 44% to 29% of dry matter. Digestibility of dry matter was unaltered by these dietary changes (77% of high prey diet vs. 73% of chow diet), but fecal consistency changed to softer stools at lower intakes of prey. Estimated metabolizable energy intakes of wolves (501674 kJ kg0.75 d1) were similar to the maintenance requirement for domestic dogs (525 kJ kg0.75 d1), suggesting a similar energy requirement for maintenance of the wolves. The metabolizable energy derived from protein in the high prey diets was 37%, whereas that of the chow diets was only 27%. These levels exceed estimates of protein requirements for maintenance (4.321.8%) and growth (11.520.3%) in domestic dogs and may thus exceed those of the wolves. Dietary management of maned wolves should minimize excess protein intake by limiting prey consumption and acclimating animals to extruded diets for domestic dogs. Further research is required to formulate diets for longterm management of cystinuria in maned wolves. 1994 WileyLiss, Inc. Copyright 1994 WileyLiss, Inc., A Wiley Company
