Serum concentration comparisons of amino acids, fatty acids, lipoproteins, vitamins A and E, and minerals between zoo and free-ranging giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Serum concentrations of amino acids, fatty acids, lipoproteins, vitamins A and E, and minerals in zoo giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) were compared to values obtained from free-ranging giraffes in an effort to identify potential nutritional differences in the zoo population. Zoo giraffes have a specific set of maladies that may be nutritionally related, including peracute mortality, […]
Giraffe Pica Behavior And Pathology As Indicators Of Nutritional Stress
Geophagia and osteophagia were a common feature of the feeding routine of the southern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) during the months from April to November. Osteophagia occurred at approximately the same frequency in adults and sub-adults. However, geophagia was primarily exhibited by sub-adult giraffe. The acts of geophagia and osteophagia were carried out by an […]
Energy and Fibre Intake in a Group of Captive Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) Offered Increasing Amounts of Browse
We investigated the effect of diet on intake of energy and fibre in a group of three captive adult giraffe by weighing offered diet items and leftovers for 7 days after an adaptation period of 7 days. Digestion coefficients were calculated using, as internal marker, the acid detergent lignin content of a faecal sample pooled […]
Feed Selection and Digestibility by Captive Giraffe
A digestion trial with subsequent examination of feed selection was conducted using two captive giraffe fed four feedstuffs. Apparent digestibility coefficients were relatively high, indicating that the animals were efficiently utilizing the feedstuffs. However, values could be affected by the possible ingestion of soil containing acid‐insoluble ash. A high fiber pelleted feed was eaten in […]
"All About Giraffes"
The information I presented highlighted the work of Giraffe Conservation Foundation in the field, especially focusing on the Niger giraffe project…as well as a range of current ex situ initiatives designed to provide a better understanding of giraffe biology. To try and cover all bases I attempt to ‘marry together’ the work being done in […]
Food and calculated energy intake in captive giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in the UK
Due to the high prevalence of pathological indications of energy malnutrition in captive giraffe (Clauss et al. 2006), the provision of dietary energy to these animals, and more importantly, the actual intake of the food items offered, is of great interest in giraffe husbandry. This poster abstract reports results of intake measurements in captive giraffes […]
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 […]
Serous fat atrophy and other nutrition-related health problems in captive giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) – An evaluation of 83 necropsy reports
Historically, the nutrition of captive giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) has been regarded as difficult, and several different disease complexes suspected to be at least partially of dietary aetiology have been observed in this species (Clauss et al., 2002a). From the literature, it seems that the condition of serous fat atrophy (SAF) at necropsy is the most […]
The feeding ecology of a selective browser, the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi)
A herbivore can manipulate certain factors of its feeding behavior in order to achieve the metabolic requirements for reproduction. These factors include choice of habitat in which to feed, the selection criteria for choosing food items, and the time allocated to feeding or devoted to other energy-consuming activities. The manipulation of these behavioural factors by […]
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 […]