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Rhino Nutrition Update AAZK, 2005

Rhino Nutrition Update AAZK, 2005. Rhino TAG Nutrition Advisory Group. Ellen Dierenfeld, Chair (Sumatran) Marcus Clauss, Univ Zurich (Black) Michael Schlegel, Disney (White) Kerrin Grant, Utah State (Asiatic). Q/A from Zookeeper Survey (thanks to Dawn Strasser!!).

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Rhino Nutrition Update AAZK, 2005

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  1. Rhino Nutrition UpdateAAZK, 2005

  2. Rhino TAG Nutrition Advisory Group • Ellen Dierenfeld, Chair (Sumatran) • Marcus Clauss, Univ Zurich (Black) • Michael Schlegel, Disney (White) • Kerrin Grant, Utah State (Asiatic)

  3. Q/A from Zookeeper Survey (thanks to Dawn Strasser!!) • New nutritional concerns • Doses of vitamin E; how often evaluate • Update on White Oak pellet feed study • Tannins for binding iron – feed study • Forages: timothy vs. Alfalfa • Browse – length of time to feed out and still maintain nutritional/enrichment value; if root on plant, degrades less?

  4. Q/A from Zookeeper Survey (thanks to Dawn Strasser!!) • Specific foods NOT to feed? • Perennial ryegrass staggars • D toxicity? • Pregnancy changes in diet

  5. Diseases with Possible Nutritional Links - Black Rhino • Hemosiderosis - mineral imbalances • Hemolytic anemia - vitamin E, antiox • Ulcerative dermatitis - glucose, amino acid, fatty acid, mineral imbalances • Peripheral vasculitis (IHV) - vitamin C, antiox, minerals, fatty acids • Overall impaired immune function

  6. Research Updates: • Mineral Survey, Tissues & Blood • Novel Antioxidant Metabolism • Tannin Binding Salivary Proteins • Intake trials in Indian Rhinos • Field Studies: • Vitamin E & Fatty Acids in Native Browses • Serum Vitamin E in Rhinos in South Africa • Field Ecology Studies – South Africa, Namibia • New Initiatives

  7. Minerals in Rhinos E.S. Dierenfeld (St. Louis), S. Atkinson (Muskingum College), A.M. Craig (Oregon State), K.C. Walker (Oregon State), W.J. Streich (Berlin) & M. Clauss (Zurich) Zoo Biology 24:51-72 (2005)

  8. Mineral Highlights • Serum/plasma • Zoo blacks (n=34); Free-ranging (n=27) • Zoo whites (n=3-16); Free-ranging (n=5) • Indian (n=3), Sumatran (n=3) • Liver (21 blacks, 6 whites, 2-4 Indian & Sumatran) • Horse a good model of metabolism • Rhinos ‘er blood Ca & Se (captive only); low Na compared to equids • Browsers high Fe (blood & liver) • Browsers low Cu (liver) – grazers high • Liver K, Mg, Co, & Mo with age

  9. Iron Issues – Browsing rhinos • Captives & females higher

  10. Iron Issues – Browsing rhinos • Females higher, both sexes increase with age

  11. Linked with low tannins? Antiox, increased availability of iron but not solely diet Lack of fiber? Also can increase Fe bioavail – again, soluble CHO may be important Influence of dietary vitamin C? (citrus effect doubtful - native browses likely high) Iron Issues – Browsing Rhinos

  12. Mineral Interactions

  13. Elevated Free Tyrosine in Rhinoceros Erytrhocytes Weber, B.W., D.E. Paglia, E.H. Harley Comp Biochem Physiol 138:105-109 (2004)

  14. Tyrosine in rhinoceros RBCs (but not plasma) 50-fold higher than humans Also elevated in other Perissodactyla Captives significantly lower compared to free-ranging; also variation across species Function as antioxidant?

  15. Tannins & Rhinos M. Clauss, Munich (now Zurich); J. Gehrke, J. Fickel, & M. Lechner-Doll, Berlin; E.J. Flach, Whipsnade; E.S. Dierenfeld, WCS (now St. Louis); J.-M. Hatt, Zurich Comp Biochem Physiol 140:67-72 (2005)

  16. Salivary tannin-binding proteins (TBP) related to dietary habits – browsers highest Compared saliva samples from grazer (white, n=9), browser (black, n=10), and mixed (Indian, n=8) feeding habits Used hydrolyzable (tannic acid) & condensed (quebracho solution) tannin stds Tannin-Binding Salivary Proteins in 3 Rhino Species

  17. Black rhino – bound both H & CT >> white Indian bound H = black, CT >> black Difference between black & white expected, results from Indian may indicate evolutionarily recent switch from browsing Tannin-Binding Salivary Proteins in 3 Rhino SpeciesResults……..

  18. Related to dietary habits – browsers highest Black rhinos eat tannins in nature – seasonal dietary habits might benefit from inducible mechanism. Six animals (3 facilities) fed 3 mo: Regular diet Diet + 5% tannic acid pellet Diet + 5% quebracho pellet Tannin-Binding Salivary Proteins Inducible in Black Rhinos

  19. Significant in tannic acid-binding capacity with both tannic acid and quebracho feeding n.s. trend for change in quebracho-binding capacity with quebracho feeding; no change with tannic acid feeding Hydrolyzable tannins play a greater role in native environment of rhino? HT >> CT at iron binding? Ongoing trials both in Europe & the US, with Fe balance Induction of Tannin-Binding Salivary Proteins …. Cont.

  20. Indian Rhino Nutrition:Zoo Study M. Clauss, C. Polster, E. Kienzle, H.Wiesner, K. Baumgartner, F. von Houwald, W.J. Streich, E. S. Dierenfeld Zoo Biology 24:1-14 (2005)

  21. Aims of the Study • Chronic foot problems, leiomyomas – linked with excess body weight? • Intake, Digestion • difference between zoo diets • (Nürnberg, n=2; München, n=2; Zurich, n=3; Bronx, n=4) • Diets with or without concentrates • Mineral (Ca) metabolism • Water intake

  22. Zoo Diets • Nürnberg Grass hay, grass silage, pellets, Fruit & vegetable, mineral biscuits • Munich Grass hay, pellets, fruit & vegetable, mineral • Basel Straw, pellets, hay cobs, fruit & vegetable • Bronx Mixed hay, pellets, (minimal) produce

  23. Particle Passage & Dry matter intake

  24. Dry Matter Digestibility

  25. Dry Matter Digestibility& Crude Fiber

  26. Results: • consumed 0.5-1.1% of body weight (DMI) daily • digestible energy 0.27-0.99 MJ DE/kg BW0 .75 (compared with est. reqt. 0.49-0.66) • 64% (7 of 11) consumed more energy, even on roughage-only diet • Water intake 30-49 mL/kg BW daily (~equid)

  27. Results: • hay ad libitum diet is possible BUT • mineral &/or vitamin supplement needed • straw + concentrate diet: • energy provision as good as hay only diet • May need to restrict both concentrate & forage

  28. Ca-Metabolism in Rhinos • Similar to horses, rabbits • not dependent on Vit D (?) • Elimination: URINE • Consequence: • Ca-stones in bladder & kidney (reported in rabbits, horses; never in rhino) • Other minerals, similar to horses

  29. Rhino Browse: Free-Ranging & Captive (n=12) (n=4) (n=44) (n=11)

  30. FORAGES FOR RHINOS: • Best nutrient ratio to duplicate browse? More grass than legume – sol CHO (in grass) impt. ??? - needs investigation • Good quality grass forage & proper pellet (6:1) alone can meet maintenance reqts. • Alfalfa NOT considered browse. • Browse can have enrichment value even if nutrient profiles not maintained. • Degradation depends on nutrient; don‘t know effect of roots – worth testing. • Keep as palatable as possible.

  31. Lucerne (Alfalfa) can be Problematic • High [ ] N, Ca, Mg • Increased hindgut pH • Very digestible, altered passage rate • Salivary buffering issues, acid/base imbalances more prevalent

  32. Mineral Imbalances Due to Improper Forages? • Associated with lucerne (alfalfa) feeding – in both grazers & browsers

  33. Grass Also Problematic? • Grass staggars reported with perennial ryegrass (Bluett et al., NZ Vet J 52:48, 2004) • Due to fungal endophyte with alkaloids; localized in leaf base (overgrazing) and seed heads (undergrazing) • Clinically – tremors, lethargy, staggar, collapse • Test for lolitrem B (>1 mg/kg DM) or don‘t use pastures/hay containing perennial ryegrass with wild endophyte

  34. PREGNANCY DIETS (all rhinos): • NO increased need until last trimester & during lactation • Increased: • Calorie needs (about double) • protein reqts. (8-10 to 12-14%) • Ca (0.3 – 0.5%) and P (0.2-0.3%) • No other changes recommended with equine model • Best to alter digestibility of diet – increasing browse and/or legume forage (adds protein and Ca), possibly targeted concentrates - not double quantities per se due to physical limitations

  35. Plasma Vitamin E in Free-Ranging Black Rhinos Mean = 0.86 ug/ml; similar to other studies Ndondo et al., 2004 S Afr J Wild Rec 34:100-102

  36. Plasma Vitamin E in Free-Ranging Black Rhinos Clauss et al., 2002

  37. Plasma Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Black Rhinos Clauss et al., 2002

  38. Vitamin E Concentrations in Black Rhino Browses Ndondo et al., 2004 Dierenfeld et al., 1995 Ghebremeskel et al., 1991

  39. VITAMIN E: • Recommended doses (dietary levels) of vitamin E: • Based on available information, ensure all species consume diets containing at least 50 IU/kg DM – up to ~200 IU/kg. • Not doses per se, but if eat 1% of body mass, a 2000 kg black will eat 20 kg DM X 50 IU = 1000 IU minimal. • Evaluate at least annually

  40. Vitamin D Toxicity – an Isolated Problem in 2002 Manufacturer very responsive, no diet problem isolated Miller et al., summary, 2003

  41. Fatty Acids in Black Rhino Browses (South Africa) • Seasonal shift - increased PUFAs (C18) in winter vs spring • No relationship with vit E levels but essential for vit E absorption Ndondo et al., 2004

  42. Evidence of FA Deficiency in Black Rhinos • Browse composition (Zimbabwe & NA temperate spp.) • Fresh browse - a-linolenic (n-3) 15X >> linoleic (n-6); immediate oxidation • Zoo vs. free-range diet - linoleic 5X, linolenic 1/3 Grant et al., 2002, J. Wildl. Dis.; Wright, 1998

  43. Clinical response to dietary FA supplementation Adding flax-based supplement altered w-3:w-6 ratios favorably Zoo diet - opposite effects on ratio Suedmeyer & Dierenfeld, 1998 Adipose tissue FA [ ] as measure of long-term diet effects 25% of rhinos (n=20) deficient in C18:2 (linoleic); >50% undetectable C18:3 (a-linolenic) No free-range tissue samples as baseline Fatty Acid Investigations - Zoo Rhinos: Short- & Long-Term Dierenfeld & Frank, 1998

  44. Currently summarizing FA in rhino plasma (US and European zoos) vs. Free-ranging • Limit foods high in PUFAs unless adequate antioxidant (Polyphenolics? Vitamin E? Tyrosine?) • Concentrates higher than forages in PUFA

  45. Ongoing Captive Nutrition Studies – Rhinos: • White Oak Browsing Rhino pellets – added St. Louis (n=1); others? • Busch Gardens – diet with increased soluble CHO, beet pulp (n=3 blacks) • Tannin feed additives: US and Europe – no updates submitted • Sumatran rhino feeding trial – Los Angeles – seasonal intake/digestion trials • Rhino Browse/Diet Database?

  46. Ongoing Nutrition Field Studies – Black Rhinos: • Stephane Helary – University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. N. Owen-Smith, advisor. IRF initially funded • Earthwatch project – Waterberg Plateau, Namibia, also examining South African sites • Quantifying Fe, tannins, minerals & natural chelators, possibly ascorbic acid • Feed plants, feces • Different ecosystems, different seasons

  47. IRF RFP 2005 - Priority Target Areas with Possible Nutrition Component(s): • Dietary/Nutritional links with disease or susceptibility • Dietary links with reproduction • Nutritional links with male sex skew

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