Studies on the digestion in the Giant Panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, fed feedstuffs including bamboo

Abstract

Two digestion trials by total feces collection method were conducted, using a male adult giant panda in captivity fed feedstuffs including bamboo. Collected pieces of feces were assorted according to undigested feedstuff mainly forming each piece of feces, and analyzed separately. The data were converted into undigested nutrients of each feedstuff with a calculating procedure devised to assess respective digestibility.Cell wall constituents of bamboo were apparently digested to a certain extent, although the digestibility was low (24.1% and 15.0% in Experiment 1 and 2, respectively, in the case of NDF (neutral detergent fiber)). Cellular contents of the bamboo were also less digestible compared with those of the other feedstuffs, while nutrients in less fibrous feedstuffs (concentrates) were digested fairly well (more than 90%).The amount of non structural carbohydrate of bamboo excreted in the feces, exceeded the amount ingested. This fact was considered to be due to imperfect digestion of cell wall constituents, resulting matters soluble in the detergent but not absorbed.Regarding the importance of ingesting sufficient bamboo not only for supplying nutrients but also for supporting sound digestive conditions in the panda was discussed.