Utilization of macro‐nutrients and minerals in captive greater one‐horned rhinoceros fed season‐specific diets

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study nutrient and mineral utilization in greater one‐horned rhinoceros fed season‐specific diets. Nine adult greater one‐horned rhinoceros (774–2407 kg BW) of Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, Patna, Bihar, India, were used in this experiment. Three digestion trials of 60‐d duration were conducted per animal, out of which 55 days was adaptation period and 5 days was collection period. The amount of concentrate was kept constant during all the trials. Green fodder sources were sugarcane, berseem (Trifolium alexndrinum) and chari (Sorghum bicolor) during trials I, II and III respectively. Green fodders were offered 20% in excess of previous day's intake in the afternoon. Apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude fibre was higher (p < .01) in group II as compared to other groups. Apparent digestibility of crude protein was lowest (p < .01) in group I, followed by group III, and the highest value was observed in group II. Apparent digestibility of Ca and P was lower in greater one‐horned rhinoceros fed sugarcane and sorghum as green fodder source. In spite of this, sugarcane and sorghum‐based diets were able to meet the requirement of Ca, P, Fe and Mn. Berseem supplied Ca in excess of requirement. All the diets were deficient in Zn. Hence, a suitable supplement of Zn should be added to the conventional zoo diet of greater one‐horned rhinoceros.