Digestive Function of Wapiti Calves

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Abstract
Dry matter intake, apparent digestibilities of dry matter, energy, N, fiber and fat and retention time of digesta were measured in wapiti calves (C. elaphus nelsoni) that were exposed to outside ambient temperatures or housed at 18.degree. C. Mean intakes of dry matter declined from Oct.-Dec. and remained relatively stable from Feb.-June. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter, energy, N and fat increased in winter and spring months from lows in Oct. Digestibility of acid detergent fiber was depressed markedly from Dec. to Feb. Mean retention time of a pelleted ration in the digestive tract increased from 21.4 h in Oct. to 28.7 h in Feb. Wapiti calves exposed to outdoor ambient temperatures displayed lower apparent digestibilities of energy, N, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber. Thyroxine concentrations in blood were positively related to intakes of dry matter and negatively related to digestibilities of dry matter, energy, N, fat and acid detergent fiber and to mean retention time.