Browsing Diet Research Articles

Dry matter and digesta particle size gradients along the goat digestive tract on grass and browse diets.

Physical properties of the digesta vary along the ruminant digestive tract. They also vary within the forestomach, leading to varying degrees of rumen contents stratification in 'moose-type' (browsing) and 'cattle-type' (intermediate and grazing) ruminants. We investigated the dry matter concentration (DM) and the mean digesta particle size (MPS) within the forestomach and along the digestive tract in 10 goats fed grass hay or dried browse after a standardized 12-h fast, euthanasia and freezing in the natural position. In all animals, irrespective of diet, DM showed a peak in the omasum and an increase from caecum via colon towards the faeces and a decrease in MPS between the reticulum and the omasum. Both patterns are typical for ruminants in general. In the forestomach, there was little systematic difference between more cranial and more caudal locations ('horizontal stratification'), with the possible exception of large particle segregation in the dorsal rumen blindsac on the grass diet. In contrast, the typical (vertical) contents stratification was evident for DM (with drier contents dorsally) and, to a lower degree, for MPS (with larger particles dorsally). Although evident in both groups, this stratification was more pronounced on the grass diet. The results support the interpretation that differences in rumen contents stratification between ruminants are mainly an effect of species-specific physiology, but can be enhanced due to the diet consumed.

Fibrolytic Bacteria Isolated from the Rumen of North American Moose (Alces alces) and Their Use as a Probiotic in Neonatal Lambs.

Fibrolytic bacteria were isolated from the rumen of North American moose (Alces alces), which eat a high-fiber diet of woody browse. It was hypothesized that fibrolytic bacteria isolated from the moose rumen could be used as probiotics to improve fiber degradation and animal production. Thirty-one isolates (Bacillus, n = 26; Paenibacillus, n = 1; and Staphylococcus, n = 4) were cultured from moose rumen digesta samples collected in Vermont. Using Sanger sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, culturing techniques, and optical densities, isolates were identified and screened for biochemical properties important to plant carbohydrate degradation. Five isolates were selected as candidates for use as a probiotic, which was administered daily to neonate lambs for 9 weeks. It was hypothesized that regular administration of a probiotic to improve fibrolysis to neonate animals through weaning would increase the developing rumen bacterial diversity, increase animal production, and allow for long-term colonization of the probiotic species. Neither weight gain nor wool quality was improved in lambs given a probiotic, however, dietary efficiency was increased as evidenced by the reduced feed intake (and rearing costs) without a loss to weight gain. Experimental lambs had a lower acetate to propionate ratio than control lambs, which was previously shown to indicate increased dietary efficiency. Fibrolytic bacteria made up the majority of sequences, mainly Prevotella, Butyrivibrio, and Ruminococcus. While protozoal densities increased over time and were stable, methanogen densities varied greatly in the first six months of life for lambs. This is likely due to the changing diet and bacterial populations in the developing rumen.

Prediction of Feed Intake and Its Relationships with Chemical Composition of Diets in Goats Consuming Concentrate, Bahiagrass Pasture and Mimosa Browse

An indoor and a grazing experiment was conducted to determine how estimated feed intake and digestion by grazing goats consuming concentrate, bahaigrass pasture, and mimosa browse changed with body weight (BW), level of supplementation, and forage chemical composition. Twenty four Boer wether goats were assigned in a completely randomized design with repeated measures on the following 3 treatments: concentrate, mimosa browse, and bahiagrass pasture. Internal markers used to estimate both dry matter (DM) digestibility (DMD) and DM intake (DMI) included acid detergent lignin (ADL) and acid insoluble ash (AIA). Marker-derived estimates of DMD and DMI were compared with DMD measured by total fecal collection or directly measured by in vivo feed intake rate. Both ADL and AIA-based markers in mimosa and bahiagrass diets were similar from those derived by in vivo DMD; however, AIA-based marker in concentrate was under-estimated (P < 0.01). These results indicate that ADL and AIA indigestible markers performed similarly to in vivo DMD in mimosa and bahiagrass, although AIA concentration in mimosa seemed to be low compared to others. All markers yielded feed intake estimates that differed from those derived by ADL (P < 0.03), AIA (P < 0.01), and in vitro DMD (P < 0.001) compared to in vivo control, with ADL (P < 0.05) and in vitro DMD (P < 0.01) by period interactions, indicating that estimated intake from ADL and in vitro DMD increased more in mimosa browse diet with time period than in concentrate and bahiagrass diets with that estimated intakes being decreased with corresponding the second period due to lower in vitro DMD (21% to 4%) in second period compared to the first period in both concentrate and bahiagrass diets, respectively. In the present study, mean marker recoveries were higher (P < 0.01) for bahiagrass and mimosa diets than for the concentrate diets for both ADL- and AIA-based markers. It can be concluded that the use of natural markers in ADL and AIA offers advantages over the total fecal collection or direct measurement of in vivo intake methods for digestibility studies. Both ADL and AIA occur in common forages at readily measurable levels and laboratory procedures are not difficult or time consuming. Therefore, both ADL and AIA have possible use in digestibility studies where other methods may not be applicable.

A New Method of Tooth Mesowear and a Test of it on Domestic Goats

Mesowear III is a new form of mesowear that uses separately the mesial and distal surfaces of enamel band 2 of the upper second molar to differentiate between a browsing and a grazing diet. The enamel band of browsers is flat and planar, in grazers it contains gouges and sub-facets which eventually become round. Mesowear III scores these shapes on a scale 1–4; score 1 represents the typical browser and score 4 represents a typical grazer. Differences in diet can also be studied by observing the junction between the mesial and distal side of the enamel band (j point); the j point is sharper and well defined in browsers, while it is rounder or non-existent in grazers. Wild browsers, grazers, and mixed feeders separate well using mesowear III. The wild taxa data were similar to mesowear III of experimental goats that were fed a controlled grazing or browsing diet (species of plants known). In addition, the browsing versus the grazing goat mesowear III signal becomes more distinct from each other by 40 days of feeding. Mesowear III so far gives a finer signal than previous mesowear (I and II).

Mesowear Analysis on Finnish Medieval Horses

Mesowear analysis is a powerful tool for paleodiet reconstruction in ungulates. In this study, we apply this method to archeological data. We conduct mesowear analysis on cheek teeth of medieval horses from the Levänluhta site in Ostrobothnia, western Finland and, for comparison, we study medieval and post-medieval horse teeth from Viljandi and Tallinn, Estonia. Our results show attrition-dominated mesowear indicating browsing diet for the medieval Levänluhta horses, while the Viljandi horses have mesowear indicating more mixed diet. Mesowear on teeth from Tallinn horses suggest primarily grazing-like abrasive diet. Differences maybe due to different diet of horses in Finland and Estonia, or may point to seasonal differences in diet and thus indicate different times of death for these horses.

Short-term digestible energy intake in captive moose (Alces alces) on different diets

Moose (Alces alces) are regularly described as problematic animals in captivity, mainly because of their particular digestive physiology and resulting feeding demands. According to the literature, moose regularly reject non-browse forages offered in captivity, which may indirectly lead to an overproportional ingestion of easily digestible feeds and thus chronic acidosis, which may in turn be the cause of their low life expectancy in captivity. By feeding experiments in four animals, this study aimed at testing whether maintaining moose on roughage-only diets appears feasible. The diets used consisted of the typical zoo ration with mixed feeds (including alfalfa hay), and exclusive diets of alfalfa hay, combinations of alfalfa hay and grass hay, alfalfa hay and grass hay and dried browse leaves, and dried browse leaves only. Whereas results confirmed that moose do not ingest grass hay in relevant amounts, digestible energy (DE) intake on alfalfa hay was, at 0.67 ± 0.15 DE MJ kg(-0.75) day(-1), above the estimated maintenance requirement of 0.6, and higher on the browse diets. At least for short-time periods, results contradict previous reports in the literature that alfalfa hay only is not a suitable maintenance diet for moose. At the same time the results promote feeding moose in captivity forage-based diets.

Dental microwear and diet of white‐tailed deer through its North and Central American Range

We investigated the dietary ecology of the white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus using enamel microwear with a stereomicroscope at low magnification (35×). These 96 adult white‐tailed deer were museum specimens that were collected throughout North and Central America; we divided them into five biogeographic regions to determine any differences in diets through their sampled range. Our observations indicated a soft browsing diet for this wide‐ranging generalist species that was quite consistent throughout its range, but with noticeable regional variations. It is possible that this diet is a result of its modern commensality with humans and having a preference for habitat‐edge environments. We found that its diet in Massachusetts and New York reflected a habitat that is more open than the northern New England individuals. We found the most noticeable differences between the extreme northern and southern ends of its Northern American range. Odocoileus virginianus by itself is not an ideal habitat indicator due to its generalized niche, but it does help to characterize a particular habitat‐edge niche common to many New World habitats.

Grit not grass: Concordant patterns of early origin of hypsodonty in Great Plains ungulates and Glires

A major step in mammalian evolution was the shift amongst many herbivorous clades from a browsing diet of leaves to a grazing diet of grasses. This was associated with (1) major cooling and increasing continentality and the enormous spread of grasslands in most continents, replacing closed and open forests, and (2) hypsodonty, the possession of high-crowned teeth. Hypsodonty is traditionally linked with eating grass because of the contained phytoliths, silica-rich granules, which are presumed to wear away mammalian dental tissues. However, we present evidence from the Great Plains of North America that the origins of hypsodonty in different clades of ungulates (hoofed mammals) and Glires (rodents and lagomorphs) were substantially out of synchrony with the great spread of grasslands, 26–22Myr ago (latest Oligocene/earliest Miocene). Moderate hypsodonty was acquired by some Oligocene artiodactyls and several rodent families (mainly burrowers) at least 7Myr earlier. Highly hypsodont ungulates and hypselodont (= ever-growing cheek teeth) rodents post-date the spread of grasslands by 4 to 9Myr. Lagomorphs follow a different trend, with hypselodont forms present from near the Eocene–Oligocene boundary. These results indicate that hypsodonty was not a simple adaptation for eating grasses, and may have originated in some clades to counteract the ingestion of grit and soil.

Kangaroo tooth enamel oxygen and carbon isotope variation on a latitudinal transect in southern Australia: implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

Tooth enamel apatite carbonate carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of modern kangaroos (Macropus spp.) collected on a 900-km latitudinal transect spanning a C(3)-C(4) transition zone were analysed to create a reference set for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in southern Australia. The carbon isotope composition of enamel carbonate reflects the proportional intake of C(3) and C(4) vegetation, and its oxygen isotope composition reflects that of ingested water. Tooth enamel forms incrementally, recording dietary and environmental changes during mineralisation. Analyses show only weak correlations between climate records and latitudinal changes in δ(13)C and δ(18)O. No species achieved the δ(13)C values (~-1.0 ‰) expected for 100 % C(4) grazing diets; kangaroos at low latitudes that are classified as feeding primarily on C(4) grasses (grazers) have δ(13)C of up to -3.5 ‰. In these areas, δ(13)C below -12 ‰ suggests a 100 % C(3) grass and/or leafy plant (browse) diet while animals from higher latitude have lower δ(13)C. Animals from semi-arid areas have δ(18)O of 34-40 ‰, while grazers from temperate areas have lower values (~28-30 ‰). Three patterns with implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction emerge: (1) all species in semi-arid areas regularly browse to supplement limited grass resources; (2) all species within an environmental zone have similar carbon and oxygen isotope compositions, meaning data from different kangaroo species can be pooled for palaeoenvironmental investigations; (3) relatively small regional environmental differences can be distinguished when δ(13)C and δ(18)O data are used together. These data demonstrate that diet-isotope and climate-isotope relationships should be evaluated in modern ecosystems before application to the regional fossil record.

Rumination of different-sized particles in muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and moose (Alces alces) on grass and browse diets, and implications for rumination in different ruminant feeding types

The obligatory, periodic regurgitation of forestomach material and its subsequent re-mastication is the hallmark of the most diverse extant large herbivore group, the ruminants. Although the process of rumination is well understood in domestic species, differences between free-ranging wild ruminant species, for example of different body size or different feeding type, remain speculative to date. Here we investigate the proportion of plastic particles of varying size (1, 10 and 20mm) and density (1.03, 1.20 and 1.44mg/ml) that are recovered intact or ruminated-upon after insertion into the reticulorumen (RR) of domestic cattle (Bos primigenius f. taurus) on grass silage, and of muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus; n=4) and moose (Alces alces; n=2) both fed browse and grass diets. In the three species, the proportion of particles leaving the RR intact depended on particle size, with density showing no effect in this study. The major proportion of 1mm particles was excreted intact, whereas intact 10–20mm particles were only excreted sporadically, and not in all animals. Intact particles were mostly found in the initial samples after marker application, and mean retention times of intact particles were always shorter than those of ruminated particles. There were no differences between moose and muskoxen, but diet had a significant effect, with a higher proportion of 1mm particles ruminated upon on the grass diet in both species, indicating a higher ‘filter-bed effect’ with entrapment of small particles in a fibre mat in the RR on a grass diet. Given that less particles were ruminated on the grass diet, one could either assume that free-ranging browsers ruminate less than grazers on similar food intakes (or that they have higher food intakes at similar levels of rumination). The existing data on time-budgets of free-ranging ruminants, however, does not suffice to test these hypotheses. The fact that indication of a ‘filter-bed effect’ was also detectable in moose raises the question whether adaptations described in ‘cattle-type’ ruminants really serve to re-inforce the processes of RR contents stratification and the ‘filter-bed’, or whether they are not rather directed at other aims, such as maximizing microbial yield from the RR.

Seasonal diet changes in elephant and impala in mopane woodland

Elephant and impala as intermediate feeders, having a mixed diet of grass and browse, respond to seasonal fluctuations of forage quality by changing their diet composition. We tested the hypotheses that (1) the decrease in forage quality is accompanied by a change in diet from more monocots in the wet season to more dicots in the dry season and that that change is more pronounced and faster in impala than in elephant; (2) mopane (Colophospermum mopane), the most abundant dicot species, is the most important species in the elephant diet in mopane woodland, whereas impala feed relatively less on mopane due to the high condensed tannin concentration; and (3) impala on nutrient-rich soils have a diet consisting of more grass and change later to diet of more browse than impala on nutrient-poor soils. The phosphorus content and in vitro digestibility of monocots decreased and the NDF content increased significantly towards the end of the wet season, whereas in dicots no significant trend could be detected. We argue that this decreasing monocot quality caused elephant and impala to consume more dicots in the dry season. Elephant changed their diet gradually over a 16-week period from 70% to 25% monocots, whereas impala changed diets rapidly (2–4 weeks) from 95% to 70% monocots. For both elephants and impala, there was a positive correlation between percentage of monocots and dicots in the diet and the in vitro digestibility of these forage items. Mopane was the most important dicot species in the elephant diet and its contribution to the diet increased significantly in the dry season, whereas impala selected other dicot species. On nutrient-rich gabbroic soils, impala ate significantly more monocots than impala from nutrient-poor granitic soils, which was related to the higher in vitro digestibility of the monocots on gabbroic soil. Digestibility of food items appears to be an important determinant of diet change from the wet to the dry season in impala and elephants.

Moose Summer Diet From Feces and Field Surveys: A Comparative Study

Microhistological analysis of feces is the most applied noninvasive method for assessing diets of wild ungulates. However, the method is complicated by differential digestibility of forage species. To evaluate the efficacy of this method in quantifying browse components in summer diets of moose (Alces alces L.) on Norwegian rangelands, we compared it to parallel field surveys of browsed vegetation on the same range. Although the same principal diet components were identified in the feces and in the field, there were consistent discrepancies between the two methods in estimated proportional diet contents. Birch (Betula spp.) showed the highest field:fecal ratio: 3.3 6 0.50 compared to 0.9 6 0.16 for Salix spp., 0.8 6 0.16 for aspen (Populus tremula L.), and 0.6 6 0.12 for rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.). Until in vivo fecal correction factors for differential forage digestibility are available, we caution against broad application of fecal analyses for estimating proportions of browse in moose diet. Although we could not determine the exact amount of discrepancy implicit in each method, previous studies of moose summer diet in the area clearly indicate that fecal analyses gave a less accurate representation of actual moose browse diet than did the field survey. Fecal analyses are nevertheless needed to identify moose diet components other than browse, which are not easily obtained from field surveys. Resumen

Changes in dental wear of Plagiolophus minor (Mammalia: Perissodactyla) across the Eocene–Oligocene transition

ABSTRACT Dental mesowear and microwear are used to determine diet in the palaeothere Plagiolophus minor from a sequence of four localities across the Eocene–Oligocene transition in Europe: La Débruge, Soumailles, and Ronzon in France, and Frohnstetten in Germany. Plagiolophus minor was the only member of its family to survive more than fleetingly the mammalian faunal turnover, the Grande Coupure, which occurred during the earliest Oligocene in Europe. P. minor has a browsing diet at all the localities studied, but shows changes in the proportion of fruit and abrasive material. There is a decrease in the proportion of fruit between La Débruge and Frohnstetten (before the Grande Coupure) and an increase in the proportion of abrasive leaves across the Grande Coupure. There are two steps in increasing abrasiveness, one before the Grande Coupure and one across the Grande Coupure. The increase in abrasiveness across the Grande Coupure coincides with the timing of the Oi-1 glaciation. After the Grande Coupure, there is no change in diet for the first ∼0.3 Ma.

Food Habits of Reintroduced Elk in Southeastern Kentucky

Based on microhistological examinations of feces, Cervus elaphus (elk) from a reintroduced herd on the Cumberland Plateau in southeastern Kentucky exhibited an annual diet of grasses (24%), forbs (27%), and browse (32%). Diets shifted seasonally, possibly in response to availability and palatability. Forbs dominated the summer diet (34%), whereas grasses, forbs, and woody browse accounted for approximately equal portions of the fall diet. Grasses (40%), and browse (46%) dominated the diet during winter and spring, respectively. Grasses were eaten less during spring (10%) than during any other month. Nutritional quality does not appear to be limiting in this growing population.

Bovid paleoecology and paleoenvironments from the Late Miocene of Bulgaria: Evidence from dental microwear and stable isotopes

A multi proxy approach was performed to characterize vegetation in southwestern Bulgaria during the end of the Early and the Middle Turolian (8.7–7.0 Ma). This period was marked by eustatic fluctuations in the Mediterranean Sea that are well documented. In order to estimate the impact of these marine events on continental landscapes, dental microwear and stable isotope profiles in enamel were used to characterize feeding habits of extinct bovids, and in turn vegetation. Analyses were made on permanent molars of fossil bovids from two Late Miocene localities: Hadjidimovo-1 (Early/Middle Turolian) and Kalimantsi (Middle Turolian). Carbon isotopes profiles of Tragoportax rugosifrons and Miotragocerus gaudryi from the Hadjidimovo-1 indicate a pure C 3-based diet for the two boselaphini. Large inter-individual differences in absolute δ 18O values were found for M. gaudryi suggesting little reliance on drinking water due to a browsing diet. Dental microwear shows that none of the bovid species exclusively grazed. In Hadjidimovo-1, microwear evidence suggests mixed feeding habits for Tragoportax rugosifrons, Gazella sp., and Palaeoreas lindermayeri and a leaf browsing diet for Miotragocerus gaudryi. Palaeoreas lindermayeri from Hadjidimovo-1 has a bimodal pattern indicating that its feeding preferences were tied to seasonal food availabilities. At Kalimantsi, Miotragocerus gaudryi show variations between individuals whereas Tragoportax cf. amalthea was an exclusive browser. Palaeoreas lindermayeri and Gazella sp. were also mixed feeders in Kalimantsi. Our combined approach shows no evidence for dense forested environments during the Early and Middle Turolian, and then supports previous hypotheses based on faunal analyses. Our results rather suggest that southwestern Bulgaria was dominated by open wooded landscapes where C 3 graminoids grew in abundance among the herbaceous layer. Finally, microwear data suggest that the proportion of dicotyledons such as forbs, bushes or shrubs was probably higher in the plant communities of Kalimantsi than in those of Hadjidimovo-1.

Reconstructing the palaeodiet of Florida Mammut americanum via low-magnification stereomicroscopy

A large sample ( N = 76) of Pleistocene mastodon ( Mammut americanum) teeth from a variety of localities in Florida were analyzed for dental enamel microwear features via low-magnification stereomicroscopy. Second upper and lower molars were used for dental dietary reconstruction purposes to allow comparison of results to an extensive molar microwear database comprised of extant taxa with well-studied diets. Deciduous premolars and permanent molars were tested for consistency of enamel scar patterns. We used both Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests to test for differences across the tooth row in: (1) average pit frequency, (2) average scratch frequency, (3) scratch textural properties, and presence or absence of (4) gouges, (5) large pits, and (6) cross scratches. Of these variables, only the gouges showed significant between-tooth differences at p < .05. A Mann–Whitney test reveals that the anterior-most premolar (DP2) has significantly fewer gouges than do the other cheek teeth (especially the molars), but that there are no significant differences in gouging between any other pair of teeth. This difference may reflect ontogenetic dietary change but needs to be studied further. Stereoscopic microwear results were compared to an extant herbivore microwear trophic triangle representing average scratch and pit morphospaces for extant taxa, including graminivores, folivores, and frugivores. Enamel scar patterns for M. americanum for six microwear variables are consistent with a browsing diet but apparently one unlike that of typical extant browsing forms. Evidence for extensive bark consumption and some fruit consumption is presented. Cluster analysis reveals a clear segregation of M. americanum from typical extant browsing forms, from grazing or mixed feeding forms, and from extant African and Indian elephants. Euclidean distance comparisons reveal a dietary profile most similar to that of the extant Diceros bicornis (black rhino), a well-known browser with a prehensile lip that is used for gathering twigs into its mouth. Our results are consistent with reports for Florida mastodons showing a preponderance of twigs such as Taxodium (bald cypress) in preserved digesta.

Tooth microwear pattern in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) from Chiz� (Western France) and relation to food composition

This study was designed to correlate the dental microwear pattern in a population of roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) with seasonal dietary data. Fifty roe deer specimens from the Chizé Forest in western France provides the material of this study. The shearing facet of the second molars is digitized using a 256 level gray scale light stereomicroscope equipped with a CCD camera. Numbers and dimensions of scratches and pits are quantified using a semi-automatic protocol. Considering the population as a whole, the results are consistent with previous dental microwear analysis and suggest a browsing diet (sensu lato). In fact, the percentage of pits exceeds 50%, which is correlated with a browsing and not grazing. Furthermore, the dental microwear excludes foraging on tubers or roots. Although no significant differences are found between sexes, males from the autumn sample have a higher number of scratches on the shearing molar facets than the females. This may be correlated with the more important intake of fruits by males than females during the rutting period. The number of scratches also suggests a dietary difference between two seasonal clusters. Summer and autumnal samples have a higher frequency of highly scratched dental facets that correlate with the fruit consumption by the roe deer during these periods. Fewer dental pits were found in the roe deer sampled during summer and spring than during the other seasons. This suggests seasonal diet shifts among plant life forms with consumption of soft green leaves during the spring and summer. In winter and autumn, the roe deer feeds often on dead leaves, acorns and ivy. These food items are often consumed with sand or bark particles during the prehension of the food, this would increase the likelihood of more pits than would occur with soft semi-ligneous leaves. This seasonal dental microwear pattern has revealed a relationship between seasonal food availability and deer diets. The dental microwear analysis on this population of roe deer will help determine the paleodietary patterns of extinct ungulates.

Tooth microwear pattern in roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus L.) from Chizé (Western France) and relation to food composition

This study was designed to correlate the dental microwear pattern in a population of roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus) with seasonal dietary data. Fifty roe deer specimens from the Chizé Forest in western France provides the material of this study. The shearing facet of the second molars is digitized using a 256 level gray scale light stereomicroscope equipped with a CCD camera. Numbers and dimensions of scratches and pits are quantified using a semi-automatic protocol. Considering the population as a whole, the results are consistent with previous dental microwear analysis and suggest a browsing diet (sensu lato). In fact, the percentage of pits exceeds 50%, which is correlated with a browsing and not grazing. Furthermore, the dental microwear excludes foraging on tubers or roots. Although no significant differences are found between sexes, males from the autumn sample have a higher number of scratches on the shearing molar facets than the females. This may be correlated with the more important intake of fruits by males than females during the rutting period. The number of scratches also suggests a dietary difference between two seasonal clusters. Summer and autumnal samples have a higher frequency of highly scratched dental facets that correlate with the fruit consumption by the roe deer during these periods. Fewer dental pits were found in the roe deer sampled during summer and spring than during the other seasons. This suggests seasonal diet shifts among plant life forms with consumption of soft green leaves during the spring and summer. In winter and autumn, the roe deer feeds often on dead leaves, acorns and ivy. These food items are often consumed with sand or bark particles during the prehension of the food, this would increase the likelihood of more pits than would occur with soft semi-ligneous leaves. This seasonal dental microwear pattern has revealed a relationship between seasonal food availability and deer diets. The dental microwear analysis on this population of roe deer will help determine the paleodietary patterns of extinct ungulates.

Tooth microwear pattern in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) from Chizé (Western France) and relation to food composition

This study was designed to correlate the dental microwear pattern in a population of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) with seasonal dietary data. Fifty roe deer specimens from the Chizé Forest in western France provides the material of this study. The shearing facet of the second molars is digitized using a 256 level gray scale light stereomicroscope equipped with a CCD camera. Numbers and dimensions of scratches and pits are quantified using a semi-automatic protocol. Considering the population as a whole, the results are consistent with previous dental microwear analysis and suggest a browsing diet (sensu lato). In fact, the percentage of pits exceeds 50%, which is correlated with a browsing and not grazing. Furthermore, the dental microwear excludes foraging on tubers or roots. Although no significant differences are found between sexes, males from the autumn sample have a higher number of scratches on the shearing molar facets than the females. This may be correlated with the more important intake of fruits by males than females during the rutting period. The number of scratches also suggests a dietary difference between two seasonal clusters. Summer and autumnal samples have a higher frequency of highly scratched dental facets that correlate with the fruit consumption by the roe deer during these periods. Fewer dental pits were found in the roe deer sampled during summer and spring than during the other seasons. This suggests seasonal diet shifts among plant life forms with consumption of soft green leaves during the spring and summer. In winter and autumn, the roe deer feeds often on dead leaves, acorns and ivy. These food items are often consumed with sand or bark particles during the prehension of the food, this would increase the likelihood of more pits than would occur with soft semi-ligneous leaves. This seasonal dental microwear pattern has revealed a relationship between seasonal food availability and deer diets. The dental microwear analysis on this population of roe deer will help determine the paleodietary patterns of extinct ungulates.

지엽류 급여가 흑염소의 발육 및 육질에 미치는 영향

지엽류 급여가 흑염소의 발육 및 육질에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위하여 체중 13kg 내외의 4개월령 흑염소 수컷 28두를 공시하여 처리구별로 각각 7두씩 배치하여 농후사료와 함께 지엽류를 급여한 결과는 다음과 같다. 일당증체량은 참나무지엽구가 45.3g으로 다소 높은 경향이었고 소나무지엽구와 발효지엽구는 비슷하였다. 일일 조사료 섭취량은 참나무지엽구가 건물 197g이었고 발효지엽구가 74g이었다. 증체 g당 사료요구율은 참나무지엽구가 11.0g이었고 소나무지엽구는 15.1g이었다. 지엽류를 급여한 흑염소의 혈청 화학치는 영양장애나 체내대사에 이상이 없는 것으로 나타났다. 도체율은 45.1~46.2%이었고 정육율은 55.2~55.9%로 처리구간에 비슷하였으며 고기의 일반조성분인 조단백질과 조회분은 처리구간에 비슷하였고 조지방은 소나무지엽구와 발효지엽구가 볏짚구보다 낮았으나(p〈.05) 참나무지엽구와는 비슷하였다. 육질의 물리적 특성인 전단력, 가열감량은 소나무지엽구와 발효지엽구가 볏짚구보다 낮았으며(p〈.05) 지엽류 간에는 비슷하였다. 다즙성, 연도 그리고 향미는 소나무지엽구가 볏짚구보다 우수하였으며(p〈.05)지엽류 급여구간에는 비슷하였다. Effects of feeding browses on growth and meat quality of Korean native goats were investigated. Twenty eight heads of male goats were divided into four treatment groups fed diets containing oak browse, pine browse, fermented pine browse, and rice straw. Growth rate, feed intake, carcass and meat quality and blood and serum criteria were investigated. The highest average daily gain of goats was 45.3g from oak browse, and goats on pine browse gained similar to those on fermented pine browse. Daily forage intake was 197g DM for oak browse and 74g DM for fermented pine browse. Feed efficiency(g feed/g gain) of oak browse was 11.0g and that of pine browse was 15.1g. From the results of serological inspection, metabolism in body was normal with all the browses tested. Dressing percentage was 45.1~46.2% and meat percentage was 55.2~55.9% without significant differences between diets. Fat percentage of goat carcasses fed rice straw was higher than those fed pine browse or fermented pine browse which was, however, not significantly different from those on oak browse. Shear force and coking loss of goat meat on pine browse or fermented pine browse was less than those on rice straw(p〈0.05) without significant differences between other browses. Juiciness, tenderness, and flavor of the goat meat were the better(p<0.05) from the pine browse diet than from rice straw.