Long-term monitoring for assessing the nutritional status of a captive giraffe using body weight and blood compositions

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  • 体重や血液性状を指標としたキリンの栄養状態の長期モニタリング
  • タイジュウ ヤ ケツエキ セイジョウ オ シヒョウ ト シタ キリン ノ エイヨウ ジョウタイ ノ チョウキ モニタリング

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Abstract

<p>Acute mortality syndrome was the cause of death in a captive giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). This syndrome was induced by relatively long-term negative energy balance. In this study, we monitored blood compositions, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and food intake to assess the nutritional status of a captive giraffe using husbandry training. Blood parameters were similar to the reported values in previous studies. The mean BW was 906 kg and mean food intake was 16.7 kg/d (as-fed basis). The BW and BCS changed according to the seasonal changes in food intake. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood urea nitrogen concentrations were increased when the giraffe increased its food intake, BW and BCS, suggesting that these blood compositions can be used as an index of giraffe nutritional condition. Whereas, blood non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration did not show clear relationship between BW and BCS. </p>

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