Effects of altering diet carbohydrate profile and physical form on zoo‐housed giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata

Abstract

Unlike wild giraffe that primarily consume low starch browse, the preference of zoo‐housed giraffe for consuming supplemental feeds over forage could increase the risk of digestive disorders such as ruminal acidosis. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of modifying a supplemental feed's non‐fibre carbohydrate profile and physical form on nutritional, behavioural, and blood measures of giraffe in a zoological setting. Six non‐lactating, adult, female reticulated giraffes were used in a two‐pen modified reversal study using two dietary treatments in seven 21‐day periods with data collected on days 15–21. Dietary treatments were a control feed comprised of commercially available products used at the time as the giraffe feed (GF) and an unpelleted experimental feed (EF). On a dry matter basis, GF and EF, respectively, contained 17.0% and 17.4% crude protein, 14.2% and 1.5% starch, 14.9% and 21.3% ethanol‐soluble carbohydrates, 22.9% and 26.0% acid detergent fibre (ADF) and 9.50% and 14.9% ND‐soluble fibre (NDSF), with modulus of fineness values of 3.62 and 4.82. Supplemental feeds, alfalfa hay, salt, and water were available for ad libitum consumption. Significance was declared at p ≤ 0.05. Intakes of hay, supplemental feeds, and total feed did not differ by diet (p > 0.28), though intakes of starch (0.93 and 0.12 kg; p = 0.05) and ADF (1.83 and 2.23 kg; p = 0.04) differed between GF and EF respectively. Giraffe behaviour values (min/48 h) were greater with EF for total eating (p = 0.04); diets were not detected as different for engagement in oral stereotypes (GF = 433, EF = 318 min/48 h; p = 0.22). Blood glucose was higher on GF than EF (99.0 and 82.3 mg/dL; p = 0.03). The lower EF blood glucose value is more similar to ranges reported for domesticated ruminants. No differences were detected for changes in body weight or body condition score in the 21‐day periods (p > 0.32). Modification of supplemental feed carbohydrate profile and physical form can influence behaviour and blood glucose values of zoo‐housed giraffe.