The Nutritional Ecology of Coke's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokei) in Kenya

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Abstract
The nutrient status of wild hartebeest shot in 4 mo. is assessed after estimation of the amount of food eaten and the composition of the rumen contents, combined with the nutrient content of the diet''s constituents. The daily intakes of crude protein, gross energy and total digestible nutrients are calculated, and compared with the established requirements of domestic stock. Digestive efficiencies were obtained from a feeding trial using a hartebeest and 2 sheep. The latter were slightly more efficient at digesting all constituents of the diet. Comparison of the actual protein intake with that if the hartebeest had eaten the sward unselectively showed that selective grazing increased protein intake by 48% in the medium-wet season. Relative to their presumed requirement, the hartebeest''s protein intake ranged from 148 to only 17% in the dry season. Total digestible nutrient intake varied between 196-56%. The intake of energy by the experimental hartebeest was equivalent to a fasting metabolic rate of 215.6 kJ/kg .cntdot. wt0.73 .cntdot. day. The daily intake under field conditions in the dry season was only 63% of this value. This estimate of the metabolic rate is close to those published for sheep and measured for sheep in this study, and is less than the interspecific figure of 293 kJ/kg .cntdot. wt0.73 .cntdot. day. Compared with figures for other East African ruminants, the hartebeest''s low water consumption provides additional evidence that the hartebeest''s low metabolic rate is an adaptation to its hot, arid environment.