Faecal particle size distribution in captive wild ruminants: an approach to the browser/grazer dichotomy from the other end.

Abstract

We investigated the particle size distribution in 245 faecal samples of 81 species of captive ruminants by a wet-sieving procedure. As a comparative measure, the modulus of fineness (MOF; Poppi et al. 1980) was used. Species were classified as frugivores (n=5), browsers (BR, n=16), intermediate feeders (IM, n=35) and grazers (GR, n=25). BR generally had a higher proportion of large particles, i.e. higher MOF values, than IM or GR of comparable size. These findings are in accord with reported lower fibre digestibility and less selective particle retention in BR, and are indicative of a difference in reticulo-ruminal physiology between the main ruminant feeding types. Possible consequences of the escape of larger particles from a browser's reticulo-rumen for the feeding of captive BR are briefly discussed.