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Digestive tract pathology of captive giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis). A unifying hypothesis

Captive giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis) are affected by four major pathological conditions linked to their nutrition: (1) the so-called “peracute mortality syndrome” with complete absence and serious atrophy of body fat stores, (2) phytobezoars, i.e. Fibrous conglomerates  of plant material, in the omasum and abomasums (3) rumen acidosis or (4) partial loss of dorsal ruminal papillation. We hypothesise that all four conditions can be explained by the fact that the giraffe, like other browsing ruminants, is not adapted to grass or

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Comparative Use of Four Different Marker Systems for the Estimation of Digestibility and Low Food Intake in a Group of Captive Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)

In a feeding trial with four captive giraffes, nutrient digestibility was determined using four different marker systems. Although cobalt-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid proved to have no utility as a digestibility marker in this study, reasonable values could be obtained using C36 n-alkane, acid detergent lignin, and acid insoluble ash as markers. A comparison of methods and literature data suggests that the values derived from the C36 n-alkane assay are the most reliable absolute values. Apparent digestibility ranges thus determined were 63.5–74.3% for

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A Comparison of Husbandry, Feed Intake and Cause of Death of Captive Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in the United Kingdom

Giraffe are known to be subject to many behavioural abnormalities in captivity that are linked with inferior nutrition and a lack of stimulus to travel and browse (Baxter & Plowman, 2001). A combination of hay with compounded feeds does not adequately replicate the wild diet (Baxter & Plowman, 2001). As a consequence of a substandard diet, pathological changes can occur in the animal which may lead to ‘peracute mortality syndrome,’ particularly when combined with additional stresses (Fowler, 1977; Junge &

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Mortality of captive giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) associated with serious fat atrophy: A review of five of cases at Auckland Zoo

Five giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) died peracutely within an 8-yr period. The giraffe were maintained in an outside enclosure during the day and moved under shelter at night. All the deaths occurred in winter. All the dead giraffe had serous fat atrophy at postmortem. The giraffe were fed good quantities of browse, together with alfalfa hay and commercial supplements. Retrospective analysis of the dietary ingredients showed that the diets were energy deficient. Subsequent additional high-energy feeds have caused a marked increase

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Body Scoring System for Captive Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Peracute mortality syndrome of captive giraffe as previously defined may progress to a chronic wasting condition if certain conditions are met, the most notable condition being a lack of cold stress. At the present time there is no established method of evaluating muscling, fat, and overall body condition of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). Such a scoring system in conjunction with serum chemistries, exocrine hormones, and body weights will allow for further investigation into peracute mortality syndrome/chronic wasting, a condition which we

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