Protein Digestion in Moose

Abstract

Protein digestion trials were conducted with 4 moose (Alces alces) fed isocaloric diets varying in crude protein from 8 to 16%. Maintenance requirement for nitrogen was 0.627 ? 0.073 g/kg BW075/day. This represented a minimum dietary crude protein content of 6.8 ? 0.8%. Each additional unit of ingested nitrogen resulted in 0.346 ? 0.140 units increase in retained body nitrogen and 0.561 ? 0.140 units increase in urinary nitrogen loss. Metabolic fecal nitrogen was 0.457 g/100 g dry matter consumed. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 51(2):352-357 Moose are an important species in Alaska, valued both aesthetically and as a source of meat. As human populations increase, competition for the moose resource will intensify, thereby requiring imaginative and scientifically reliable management. Recent studies (Moen 1973, Robbins 1973, Wallmo et al. 1977, Hobbs and Swift 1985) advocated predicting habitat carrying capacity for ungulates based upon an understanding of animal nutrition. The concept of biological carrying capacity balances nutritional requirements of the animal with the nutrients supplied from the vegetation. Crude protein and digestible energy have been considered as the most frequently limiting nutrients supplied by the range forage (Moen 1973, Wallmo et al. 1977). Available literature concerning nutrient requirements, metabolic rates, and digestive capabilities for deer (Odocoileus spp.) is extensive. The literature is replete with information on food habits of moose (Peek 1974), but studies of their nutritional requirements are rare (Hjeljord et al. 1982, Renecker and Hudson 1985, Schwartz et al. 1986). We examined protein digestion in moose to better understand their protein requirements and to facilitate predicting carrying capacities of the ranges they oc-