Forage quality thresholds for Saiga antelope in a semi-desert rangeland

Abstract

Levels of digestibility and protein content necessary for maintenance, weight gain and lactation were estimated for Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica). Estimates were based on results of digestionbalance trials using confined animals, and feeding trials involving tractable animals at pasture. Threshold parameters were estimated by regression of metabolizable energy intake and body weight gain, food digestibility and metabolic energy intake, protein content in food and the amount of consumed digestible protein. To meet maintenance requirements, food digestibility must be ³ 59%, with protein content ³ 7.7%. To meet requirements for growth and lactation, minimum digestibility must be 6168%, with protein content ³ 14%. When feeding on native semi-desert range, free-ranging Saiga antelope can meet these nutritional thresholds only through selective foraging. Therefore, when evaluating grazing capacity of Saiga habitat it is important to take into consideration that only a small portion of the total plant biomass is comprised of plants and plant parts of sufficient quality.

A modern analogue of the Pleistocene steppe‐tundra ecosystem in southern Siberia

“…However, they do not show any visible signs of nutrient deficiency as defined for livestock. Concentration of N and P found there are sufficient for cattle (Whitehead 2000;Suttle 2010;Hejcman et al 2016) and correspond to the requirements for maintenance of body weight in yaks (Long et al 2008) and saiga, although in most habitats they may be low for saiga lactation (Abaturov & Subbotin 2011). N concentrations >1.5% of dry biomass measured in most sampled plots indicate fast N cycling resulting in high-quality forage and high carrying capacity of the steppe-tundra ecosystem (Faith 2011).…”

“…) and correspond to the requirements for maintenance of body weight in yaks (Long et al . ) and saiga, although in most habitats they may be low for saiga lactation (Abaturov & Subbotin ). N concentrations >1.5% of dry biomass measured in most sampled plots indicate fast N cycling resulting in high‐quality forage and high carrying capacity of the steppe‐tundra ecosystem (Faith ).…”

Calving location selection patterns of saiga antelope in Mongolia

“…Habitat choices of ungulates are associated with vegetation communities with distinctive nutritional properties (Wilmshurst et al ., ) because nutrition level of plants affects growth rate and subsequent survival of neonates (Cook et al ., ). Experimental study suggests that without selecting for forage plants that have high concentrations of minerals, saiga antelope in semi‐desert range cannot meet their nutritional requirements for weight gain and lactation (Abaturov & Subbotin, ). Regions abundant with forbs and shrubs that have significantly greater concentrations of calcium, phosphorous and magnesium are important for Mongolian gazelles in Eastern Mongolia, especially shortly before and immediately after calving (Olson, Murray & Fuller, ).…”

Concentration and reserves of nitrogen in soils and plant matter in blocks of grass ecosystems of the North‐Western Precaspian region, Russia

“…Определены основные приходные и расходные статьи и баланс азота. Ранее такие исследования в рассматриваемом регионе не проводили, имеются только данные по отдельным фрагментам данной проблемы, не увязанным в единый комплекс [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36].…”