Some Effects of Starvation on Mule Deer Rumen Bacteria

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Abstract
Nine penned mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) starved under controlled conditions beginning Sept. 23, 1971 died after 16-47 days. Rumen fluid was collected on death of starved deer. Counts of viable rumen bacteria and digestive ability of rumen bacteria from starved and nonstarved deer were compared. Although starving deer maintained over 1 billion viable bacteria in their rumina, counts of viable bacteria from starved deer were significantly lower than those from nonstarved deer. For in vitro digestion of dry matter, cell wall constituents and cell contents, there was no significant difference between rumen fluid from starved and nonstarved deer, nor was there a significant decline during 16-47 days of starvation. Starving deer maintained large numbers of functional rumen bacteria without reinfecting their rumina by eating soil or feces from nonstarved deer containing viable bacteria. Viability and digestive function of rumen bacteria do not appear to be significantly impaired by starvation of deer.

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