Nitrogen and fiber concentration in rumen contents and feces contents of Mongolian gazelles

Abstract

Fecal indicators of nutritional status of wild ungulates were less constrained than that of blood, rumen contents, or urine analyses. Thus, we compared the nitrogen and fiber concentrations of feces with those of the rumen contents of Mongolian gazelles (Procapra guttrurosa) in Hulunbeier Grassland. Rumen contents and fecal nutritional concentrations varied in different seasons. Dietary nitrogen concentrations only increased linearly with increase nitrogen concentration in fecal in winter. There was a positive correlation between rumen NDF (neutral detergent fiber) and fecal NDF concentrations. But the regression coefficient was small (r=0.3917). There was a significant regression equation between rumen contents ADF (acid detergent fiber) and fecal ADF concentrations, as well as ADL (acid detergent lignin) concentrations. Nitrogen concentration was found to be negatively correlated with NDF, ADF, and ADL concentrations both in rumen and in fecal compositions. Our data suggest that fecal nitrogen, ADF, ADL concentrations may assess winter dietary qualities that are in protein, crude fiber and lignin concentrations for Mongolian gazelles.