We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website. You can decide for yourself which categories you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available.
Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Recent Comments
Interesting work! Did you look at the net energy content of the different type of browse throughout the year, or for example young vs mature leaves? It is true that browse height is important but also fiber and lignin content are important factors. I am curious to know if the individuals who had a wider choice of food were selective or bulk feeders.
Hi Fabio, thanks for your comment. Good questions! I agree that the chemical contents of the forage are very important factors to consider. In this study we only focused on the winter season, not the whole year. But we did sample food plants (twigs, needles, shrubs), and conducted chemical analyses both on these plants and on the rumen samples themselves. We have found interesting patterns here, and this will be the focus of another paper coming up soon. With these data I cannot answer your question about the selectivity vs bulk feeding, but we have found interesting things regarding the moose' macronutrient balancing, and the disrupting effect of energy rich root vegetables on the nutritional balance of the moose' rumen. Stay tuned :)