Protein requirements of collared peccary (Pecari tajacu).

A nitrogen (N) balance digestion trial was conducted to determine the protein requirement of collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu). In a 4 × 4 Latin square design, four captive adult male peccaries were fed four isoenergy diets containing four different levels of N (11.7, 16.3, 22.8, and 26.7 g N/kg of dry matter-DM). After 15 days of adaptation, a total collection of feces and urine was carried out for five consecutive days. Regression analyses between N intake and N in feces and urine allowed to calculate the metabolic fecal nitrogen (MFN = 2.3 g N/kg of dry matter intake-DMI) and daily endogenous urinary N (EUN = 185 mg N/kg0.75). Likewise, by regression analyses between consumption of nitrogen and the nitrogen balance (NB = N ingested - N excreted, mg N/kg0.75), a daily requirement of 514 mg N/kg0.75 was calculated. Therefore, if food intake is unrestricted, collared peccaries require a minimum in their diet of about 5.4% crude protein on DM basis. These values are almost as low as those found for browsing and frugivorous wild ruminants, which reinforce the proposition that peccaries' digestive physiology is nearer to that of domestic and wild ruminants than domestic pigs. This relatively low protein requirement of collared peccary and its great ability to digest protein reveal the relevance of the forestomach for the species on nitrogen/protein metabolism and allow the use of diets with lower crude protein levels than the commercial ones used for the domestic pig, which reduces feed costs.

Glucosuria in captive okapi (Okapia johnstoni).

Eighteen of 38 captive okapi housed in the United States were found glucosuric by dipstick analysis. To confirm these findings, urine glucose concentrations of captive okapi from one collection (n = 10) were analyzed by two methods: urine dipstick analysis and quantitative analysis. Seven of these urine samples were positive for glucose by dipstick, with comparable glucose measurements by quantitative analysis. For a presumed normal control, okapi (n = 10) held in captivity within their native home range were tested for glucosuria by urine dipsticks; all were negative. Serum fructosamine (221-362 micromol/L) and insulin (9-45 pmol/L, 1.17-5.85 microU/ml) concentrations were determined from okapi (n = 6) with and without glucosuria with the use of results considered within normal limits for other ruminants. We conclude that glucosuria is a true finding in many apparently healthy captive okapi in the United States.

Analysis of the urine of the okapi (Okapia johnstoni).

The urine of six adult and two juvenile okapis housed in The Royal Rotterdam Zoological and Botanical Gardens were analysed qualitatively for the presence of protein, glucose, bilirubin, nitrite, blood and ketones and the pH was measured. Quantitative analyses were undertaken for osmolality, urea, creatinine and glucose. The results of the analyses were generally unremarkable with the exceptions of pH, glucose and in some cases the urea/creatinine ratios. However, with the exception of the glucose these other results are physiologically normal. One possible explanation for the presence of glucose in the urine of the okapis is dietary. In the wild these animals are folivorous and thus they may not be able to cope with the high level of sugar presented to them in their captive diet. However, it must be emphasised that this condition has no apparent ill effects on the animals which are in good health and are breeding successfully.