Effect of feeding different levels of wheat roti on nutrient utilization and blood metabolite profile in semi‐captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of different levels of wheat roti (WR) on nutrient utilization and blood metabolites in Asian elephants fed roughages ad libitum. Nine (3 M, 6 F) Asian elephants (14-52 years of age, 1909-3968 kg BW) were used in an experiment based on replicated Latin square design. Animals in each group (n = 3) were assigned to one of the three dietary treatments in a manner that animals in all the three groups were exposed to all the three treatments in three different periods. Each feeding trial comprised 30 days (25 days of adaptation and 5 days collection period). The amount of WR fed to the elephants was 0.18, 0.12 and 0.06% of BW in groups I, II and III, respectively. They were allowed to forage in the nearby forests for 6 h/day and to bathe for 2 h/day. The animals had ad libitum access to cut Rohini (Mallotus philippensis) trees in their night shelter. Intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), gross energy (GE), Ca, P, Fe, Cu and Zn were measured. Feed consumption was not significantly different among the groups. Significant (p < 0.01) decrease in digestibility of DM and GE and blood glucose concentration was observed with decreased level of WR in the diet. Feeding of WR at 0.06% of BW supplied adequate amount of DE, CP, Ca, P, Fe, Cu and Zn to meet requirement for adult maintenance. Feeding of WR in excess of 0.06% of BW supplied DE in excess of requirement, increased blood glucose concentration which may cause obesity and other associated health problems. It was concluded that the amount of WR should be restricted to 0.06% of BW in the diet of captive Asian elephants.

Peer Review #3 of "African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs (v0.1)"

“…Similarly, diets fed to zoo elephants in 7 elephant-holding Brazilian zoos contained on average 0.7% DM calcium, showing that minimum recommended levels were being met (Carneiro et al, 2015). Diets of semi-captive Asian elephants in India contained 0.46-0.58% DM calcium (Das et al, 2015) further supporting the conclusion that calcium deficiencies have rarely been documented in healthy adult captive elephants on maintenance diets. There is, however, evidence that incidence of calcium deficiency is higher in cows during partition and lactation, when calcium demand is increased (van der Kolk et al, 2008).…”

“…Manuscript to be reviewed dietary supplementation (Kuntze & Hunsdorff, 1978). Diets of semi-captive Asian elephants contained 105-126 mg iron/kg DM (Das et al, 2015), considerably in excess of the Nutrition Advisory group recommendation of mg iron/kg DM (Ullrey, Crissey & Hintz, 1997;Das et al, 2015).…”

“…These pieces of mixed evidence suggest that several feeding strategies may be adopted by elephant cows and bulls to meet their specific individual nutritional needs, depending upon the unique environments in which they live, and seasonal resources available to them. Documented literature on specific mineral needs in elephants is very limited and requirements per se have not been experimentally determined (Das et al, 2015). Table 2 documents minerals for which estimates have been recorded for African elephants directly.…”

African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs

“…Similarly, diets fed to zoo elephants in seven elephant-holding Brazilian zoos contained on average 0.7% DM calcium, showing that minimum recommended levels were being met (Carneiro et al, 2015). Diets of semi-captive Asian elephants in India contained 0.46–0.58% DM calcium (Das et al, 2015) further supporting the conclusion that calcium deficiencies have rarely been documented in healthy adult captive elephants on maintenance diets. There is, however, evidence that incidence of calcium deficiency is higher in cows during partition and lactation, when calcium demand is increased (Van Der Kolk et al, 2008).…”

“…In this case, clinical signs resolved upon dietary supplementation (Kuntze & Hunsdorff, 1978). Diets of semi-captive Asian elephants contained 105–126 mg iron/kg DM (Das et al, 2015), considerably in excess of the Nutrition Advisory group recommendation of 50 mg iron/kg DM (Ullrey, Crissey & Hintz, 1997; Das et al, 2015).…”