Estimates of Digestibility of Birch, Willow, and Aspen Mixtures in Moose
Schwartz CC, Regelin WL, Franzmann AW. 1988. Estimates of Digestibility of Birch, Willow, and Aspen Mixtures in Moose. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 52(1):33-37
Four feeding trials were conducted during winter with captive moose (Alces alces) at the Moose Research Center, Soldotna, Alaska. Our objectives were to estimate intake and digestibility of (1) a mixed diet of 70% paper birch (Betula papyrifera), 20% aspen (Populus tremuloides), and 10% willow (Salix spp.); (2) a mixed diet of 30% aspen and 70% pelleted ration; and (3) a mixed diet containing equal portions of paper birch, willow, and aspen browse. Moose would not consume the mixed diet that contained 70% birch, and the trial was terminated after 1 week. Dry matter intake (DMI) of the aspen and pelleted ration was 52.4 ± 12.5 (SD) g/kg body weight (BW)0.75/day. The estimate of dry matter digestion (DMD) for aspen was 40.9 ± 8.5%. Dry matter intake and DMD for the mixed-browse diets ranged from 25.4 to 38.6 g/kg BW0.75/day, and 31.1 to 38.6%, respectively. Digestible and metabolizable energy represented 37.0 and 27.8% of gross energy intake, respectively, Energy intake was below levels required for winter maintenance.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Schwartz, Charles; Regelin, Wayne; Franzmann, Albert
- Units
- CAKN , DENA , YUCH , WRST
- Keywords
- Alces alces, Betula papyrifera, Browse, Diet, Mammals, Metabolism, Nutrition, Populus tremuloides, Salix spp., Ungulates