Estimation of Dry Matter Intake of Free-Ranging Moose

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Abstract
Two free-ranging moose (A. alces) cows were used to study seasonal changes in voluntary intake between Dec. 1982 and Jan. 1984. Observations of each animal were made during a continuous 24-h period every 6-8 wk. Dry matter intake was estimated from the ratio of total dry matter in the feces to the percent indigestibility of dietary dry matter and from the bite-count technique. During the 1-yr period, dry matter intake ranged from 37.8 g/kg BW0.75 in Jan. to 128.5 g/kg BW0.75 during July. The bite-count technique estimated voluntary intakes which were within 6% of those calculated from total fecal collections. Dry matter digestibility of selected diets ranged from 71% in late May to 44% in late January as estimated by the in situ nylon bag technique. Crude protein content in the feces was correlated (P < 0.05) with digestible dry matter intake (r2 = 0.88) and with the N content of simulated diets (r2 = 0.95). Nylon bag dry matter digestibility of simulated diets was highly correlated (P < 0.001) with diet dry matter (r2 = 0.73), crude protein (r2 = 0.69), and neutral detergent fiber (r2 = 0.90). The maintenance energy requirement for a free-ranging moose cow, estimated by least squares linear regression, was 399 KJ/kg BW0.75 daily.