Effects of Cellulose Levels on the Apparent Digestibility of Feeds Eaten by Mule Deer

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Abstract
Three artificial diets that varied in cellulose content but were similar in protein and energy levels were fed to three mule deer according to a latin square design. Food intake for each deer, on each diet, during each feeding period was similar. Energy and dry matter digestion varied between diets (P<0.05) and both digestible energy and digestible dry matter were inversely related to dietary cellulose content. Cellulose digestion was somewhat variable between animals, feeds, and feeding trial periods. Protein digestion was similar in all feeding trials but crude fat digestion was somewhat greater on the low-cellulose diet. Limited cellulose digestion occurs in mule deer and affects energy and dry matter digestion of foodstuffs.

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