Seasonal variation in intake and digestion of a high-roughage diet by muskoxen

Adamczewski, Jan; Flood, P. F.; Chaplin, R. K.; Schaefer, Jasmin

doi:10.4141/cjas94-042

Cited by 47 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…This confirms reports on penned animals by Christopherson et al (1978), which showed modest seasonality. Our data show peak voluntary intake and maintenance requirements in June and September (both years using both methods), a pattern more similar to muskoxen (Adamczewski et al 1994) than wapiti (spring, Jiang and Hudson 1994). Current data provide evidence that forage quality may override seasonal effects of photoperiod and ambient temperature.…”

Section: Energy Requirementssupporting

confidence: 57%

Seasonal energetic parameters of free-grazing bison (Bison bison)

Rutley¹,

Hudson²

2000

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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parameters of yearling bison were estimated using the bite-count and single marker methods (field trials) during each solstice and equinox between June 1994 and December 1995. To calibrate the marker method and to provide a controlled estimate of seasonal requirements, balance trials were conducted in metabolism crates during winter solstice 1994 and summer solstice 1995 (pen trials). In pen trials, actual metabolizable energy (ME) intake was lower (P < 0.01) during winter (528 ± 51 kJ W -0.75 d -1 ) than in summer (917 ± 69 kJ W -0.75 d -1 ). Similarly, in field trials, estimated ME intakes were lower for both bite count (P < 0.01) and marker methods (P < 0. (June 1995). Seasonal variation (P < 0.05) in total digesta turnover time (46.4 ± 1.4 h, December 1994; 24.9 ± 2.7 h, June 1995) was related more consistently to seasonal differences in transit time (18.2 ± 1.2 h, 4.0 ± 0.8 h, respectively) than differences in reticulo-rumen and lower tract turnover time. Bison exhibited strong seasonal differences in energetic parameters like other northern wild ruminants. . Dans ces derniers, l'ingéré réel d'énergie métabolisable, EM, était moins abondant (P < 0,01) durant l'hiver, soit 528 ± 51 kJ PC -0,75 qu'en été : 917 ± 69 kJ PC -0,75 j -1 . De même, dans les essais en grands parcours, l'ingéré de EM était plus bas durant l'hiver que durant l'été, qu'il soit calculé d'après le nombre de coups de dent (P < 0,01) ou par la méthode au marqueur (P < 0,05), soit respectivement 819 ± 375, et 146 ± 105 kJ PC -0,75 j -1 contre 1977 ± 186, 408 ± 53 kJ PC -0,75 j -1 . Les besoins énergétiques calculés d'après l'ingéré réel (essais en parquets) se chiffraient par 532 ± 178 kJ PC -0,75 j -1 en hiver et par 956 ± 107 kJ PC -0,75 j -1 en été. Dans les essais en grand parcours, les besoins calculés en EM (méthode du marqueur) se situaient entre 146 ± 22 kJ PC -0,75 j -1 en hiver 1994 à 478 ± 45 kJ PC -0,75 j -1 en été 1995. Les variations saisonnières (P < 0,05) du temps total de renouvellement du digesta : 46,4 ± 1,4 h en décembre 1994 à 24,9 ( 2,7 h en juin 1995 étaient reliées plus régulièrement à celles du temps de transit gastro-intestinal, respectivement 18,2 ± 1,2 h, 4,0 ± 0,8 h, que celles du temps de rétention dans le réticulo-rumen et celles du rythme de renouvellement dans la partie inférieure du tractus digestif. Ces variations saisonnières des paramètres énergétiques sont également propres à d'autres ruminants sauvages des régions septentrionales. Mots clés:Bison, caractère saisonnier, besoin en énergie métabolisable, ingéré, paramètres d'excrétion, pâturage Plains bison (Bison bison L.) have been farmed since the late 1800s when the species was rescued from extinction (Hornaday 1890;Roe 1970;Dary 1974). Although now managed similar to domestic livestock, they still retain many of the characteristics attributed to wild ruminants. Christopherson et al. (1978) reported seasonal variation in energy expenditures for penned bison (higher spring than winter values) -variation similar to other northern wild ruminants. No stu...

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Section: Energy Requirementssupporting

confidence: 57%

Seasonal energetic parameters of free-grazing bison (Bison bison)

Rutley¹,

Hudson²

2000

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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“…food intake and requirements in winter may therefore depend on the size of body stores and additional energy demands for locomotion and thermoregulation in nonreproductive animals Barboza and Hume 2006). Cycles of hyperphagia and hypophagia in muskoxen probably follow a common seasonal cue from photoperiod because the patterns for castrated males are similar to those of immature animals and adult females (Adamczewski et al 1994a;Rombach et al 2002b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Low food intakes in winter should favor fiber digestion in northern ungulates such as muskoxen. Fiber digestibility of a common winter diet is greater in muskoxen than in cattle (Bos taurus) probably because food intakes and passage rates are lower in muskoxen than in cattle (Adamczewski et al 1994a(Adamczewski et al , 1994b. Degradation of fiber does not increase in muskoxen between autumn and winter; on the contrary, cellulose digestibilities decline from autumn (0.76 g g Ϫ1 ) to winter (0.65 g g Ϫ1 ; .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Ruminal Fermentation and Fill Change with Season in an Arctic Grazer: Responses to Hyperphagia and Hypophagia in Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus)

Barboza¹,

Peltier²,

Forster³

2006

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

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We studied castrated adult muskoxen fed a standard diet of grass hay and supplement throughout the year to determine seasonal changes in digesta passage, fill, and fermentation without the confounding effects of reproductive demands or changes in food quality. Although food intake increased by 74% between spring and autumn, mean retention times of fluid and particulate digesta markers were maintained between seasons in both the rumen (9-13 h) and the intestines (27-37 h). The rumen contained 84.5% of digesta and accounted for 79% of dry matter digestion in the whole digestive tract. Ruminal fluid space and whole-gut digesta fill increased by 31%-34%, while ruminal rates of in situ degradation increased by more than 100% between spring and autumn for cellulose and hemicellulose. Hyperphagia in autumn was accompanied by increased bacterial counts in ruminal fluid (30%), declines in ruminal pH, and increases in the concentration of fermentation acids (16%) when compared with spring hypophagia. Consumption of fresh hay and supplement increased the concentrations of acids most markedly during winter and spring when bacterial counts were low. Low food intakes in winter and spring may limit the microbial population, whereas hyperphagia in autumn may foster a much more active microflora that requires consistent supplies of substrate. Plasticity of fill and fermentation in muskoxen minimizes winter costs and maximizes nutrients and energy gained from coarse forages in small home ranges throughout the year.

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“…Although studies of muskox diet have shown muskoxen to be quite capable of utilizing willow during summer (Wilkinson et al, 1976;Thing et al, 1987;Larter and Nagy, 1997), a diet high in willow browse may not be advantageous. Muskoxen represent the classic grazer (Hofmann, 1989(Hofmann, , 2000: they have a large gut capable of processing large amounts of low-quality forage and a very slow rumen turnover rate (Adamczewski et al, 1994). Willow leaves and newly growing stems show a consistent increase in lignin content, which reaches 10 -25% by midAugust, whereas lignin content in sedge (Carex spp.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Population estimates for muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) (age > 1 year) on Banks Island increased from 29 168 (SE 2104) in 1985 to a peak of 64 608 (SE 2009) in 1994 and then declined to 45 833 (SE 1938) in 1998. From 1986to 1999, annual sex and age classification surveys of muskoxen were conducted during summer.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Calf Production, Calf Survival, and Recruitment of Muskoxen on Banks Island during a Period of Changing Population Density from 1986-99

Larter¹,

Nagy²

2001

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Population estimates for muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) (age > 1 year) on Banks Island increased from 29 168 (SE 2104) in 1985 to a peak of 64 608 (SE 2009) in 1994 and then declined to 45 833 (SE 1938) in 1998. From 1986to 1999, annual sex and age classification surveys of muskoxen were conducted during summer. We estimated calf production (number of calves per 100 females aged 2 years or more), calf survival, and recruitment (number of yearlings per 100 females aged 2 years or more). Calf production ranged from 31.3 to 56.3 and was similar between periods of increasing and decreasing density (mean = 42.3 vs. 40.8). Calf survival ranged from 23% to 83% and was generally higher while density was increasing than during its decline (mean = 60 vs. 45). Survival at a given density was lower following the 1994 peak in density. Recruitment ranged from 10.0 to 41.7 and was higher (p = 0.06) during the period of increasing density than during the decline (mean = 28.0 vs. 17.2). Calf survival and recruitment were lowest following two consecutive severe winters, but animal density explained more of the variation in survival and recruitment than did late-winter snow depth. There was a positive relationship between the proportion of sedge (Carex spp., Eriophorum scheuchzeri) in the summer diet and calf survival and recruitment. Patterns of calf survival and recruitment plotted against density were consistent with those modelling a density-dependent relationship. Our results suggest that severe weather alone cannot explain the fluctuations in the population dynamics of Banks Island muskoxen and that underlying density-dependent responses acting upon calf survival and recruitment offer an alternative explanation. . La survie des veaux et le recrutement étaient les plus faibles après deux hivers rigoureux, mais la densité des animaux expliquait mieux la variation dans la survie et le recrutement que l'épaisseur de la neige à la fin de l'hiver. Il y avait une relation positive entre la proportion de carex (Carex spp, Eriophorum scheuchzeri) dans l'alimentation estivale et la survie des veaux ainsi que le recrutement. Les tendances dans la survie des veaux et le recrutement tracées en fonction de la densité donnaient des courbes en accord avec celles représentant un modèle variant avec la densité. Nos résultats suggèrent que la rigueur du climat ne peut à elle seule expliquer les fluctuations dans la dynamique de la population du boeuf musqué de l'île Banks et que des réactions fondamentales variant avec la densité qui influent sur la survie des veaux et le recrutement offrent une autre explication.

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Seasonal variation in intake and digestion of a high-roughage diet by muskoxen

Cited by 47 publications

References 29 publications

Seasonal energetic parameters of free-grazing bison (Bison bison)

Seasonal energetic parameters of free-grazing bison (Bison bison)

Ruminal Fermentation and Fill Change with Season in an Arctic Grazer: Responses to Hyperphagia and Hypophagia in Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus)

Calf Production, Calf Survival, and Recruitment of Muskoxen on Banks Island during a Period of Changing Population Density from 1986-99

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