Utilisation of cereal green fodder in black buck and different species of deer under semi-captivity

Abstract

Black buck (Antilope cervicapra) and three species of deer, viz., swamp deer (Cervus d. duvauceli), hog deer (Axis porcinus) and spotted deer (Axis axis) raised under semicaptive environment were compared for their nutritional efficacy on cereal green fodder feeding. These wild animals were fed ad libitum green fodder, viz. jowar (Sorghum vulgare) and maize (Zea mays) in subsequent periods as sole feed. Digestibility of different nutrients, viz. DM, OM, CP, EE, ADF, NDF, hemicellulose, total carbohydrate and gross energy (GE) were determined using indicator technique. The digestibility of almost all the nutrients was highest in the spotted dear followed by black buck and hog deer and lowest in swamp deer. The digestibility of most of the nutrients was similar in black buck and hog deer except for CP which was higher in hog deer as compared to black buck. Between male and female black bucks, the utilisation of nutrients was better in the females. The digestibility values are close to that of practical feeding trial values. The cereal green fodder with about 70 per cent TDN and 8 per cent DCP is expected to meet the protein and energy need of animal for moderate production.