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Dental Disease and Serous Atrophy of Fat Syndrome in Captive Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)

A condition characterized by serous atrophy of fat (SAF) has been reported as leading to peracute mortality in a number of giraffes at several institutions during the last 3 decades. These mortalities were originally attributed to insufficient protein and high fiber diets but were also associated with stress, other nutritional imbalances, and infectious and toxic conditions. A recent report attributes similar giraffe morbidity and mortality to hypoglycemia and chronic energy malnutrition mainly in younger giraffes.

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Seasonal chemical composition of the diet of Transvaal lowveld giraffe

Rumen contents of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) were collected over a 1-year period in the eastern Transvaal lowveld and crude protein, ether extract (fat), crude fibre, ash and gross energy content were determined. Variations in crude protein, ash and gross energy content of the diet could be related to changes in the composition of the diet of the giraffe and to seasonal phonological changes of the vegetation. There was no evident correlation for crude fibre or fat, but this could have

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Food Selection by Transvaal lowveld giraffe as determined by analysis of stomach contents

Food selection by giraffe in the Transvaal lowveld was studied by identifying plant fragments from stomach contents over a 1 year period. Large fragments were randomly taken from the material while small fragments were taken from a 50 ml sample. Identifications were based on diagnostic keys and over 8000 fragments were classified. The validity of the samples was tested and found to be satisfactory. Giraffe were found to subsist mainly on leaves of trees and shrubs. Fruit, flowers and twigs

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