Bangladesh J. Zool. 34(1): 127-131, 2006 FOOD CONSUMPTION OF BARKING DEER (MUNTIACUS MUNTJAK ZIMMERMANN) IN CAPTIVITY SALMA AHMED AND NOOR JAHAN SARKER Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh Abstract: The daily food consumption of a barking deer, Muntiacus muntjak, in captivity was 6.48 kg. per day. The consumption was the highest in winter (6.60 kg/day) followed by summer (6.50 kg/day) and monsoon (6.35 kg/day). It was observed that this species preferred grasses followed by granular food and then vegetables. The individuals were found to take their food in the morning and evening more eagerly than the rest of the time. The male was more active than the female during feeding and they did not quarrel with each other. After feeding they took rest under a shaded place within the enclosure. Key words: Barking deer, food, consumption, captivity INTRODUCTION Sarker and Khan (1991a,b) worked on the breeding of barking deer and spotted deer in captivity. Awal et al. (1992) worked on the breeding of sambar deer in captivity. Mattiello et al. (1997) reported the feeding and social behavior of the fallow deer under intensive pasture confinement. The present study was aimed to collect as much information as possible on the food consumption of barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak) in captivity. Deer farming is a very successful aspect in the world. There are many deer farms in Australia, New Zealand, England and Scotland, which are well established and highly contributing to the economy as well as to deer conservation. The purpose of the present study is to assess the food requirements of the barking deer, M. muntijak. It is expected that this finding will help the interested persons who intend to make attempt for establishing deer farms in our country. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was undertaken in the Dhaka Zoo, Mirpur, Bangladesh, with the permission of the respective authority from November 1998 to October 1999. The food consumption of M. muntjak was observed in three days per month. The observations were made early in the morning and in the afternoon. There were 16 barking deers including five males, seven females and four subadults. The average body weight of the barking deers was 24 kg. The consumption of all foods by each barking deer was assessed by averaging the consumed food by 16 deer in the enclosure no. L24. The grill height was 10 ft,
128 Ahmed and Sarker the length of the cage was 115 ft and breadth 48 ft. There was also a water tank and some shaded places. The food items were grasses (Cynodon sp., Cyperus sp., Altenanthero sessilis) granular food (the bran of Triticum aestivum, Lathyrus, sativus, Sesamum iindicum) and vegetables (Solanum sp., Benincase cerifera, Lagenaria vulgaris, Cucumis sativus, Carica papaya, Cucurbita maxima, Saucus carota, Brassica campestris, Colocasia eaculenta, Raphanas, sativa, Apinacea oleracea). In addition to the granular food 15 g of iodine salt was supplied for each deer. The supply of food items depended on their availability in a season. All observations were made during day time as the barking deers are diurnal animals. Food was supplied always in the morning from 9.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The total amount of food consumed, i.e. grasses, granular food and vegetables together was 6.48 kg/day. The consumption of grasses by a barking deer was from 4.58 to 5.08 kg/day (Avg. 4.78 kg/day). The consumption of the granular food by a barking deer was from 0.96 to 1.31 kg/day (Avg. 1.17 kg/day). The consumption of the vegetables by a barking deer was from 0.44 to 0.63 kg/day (Avg. 0.53 kg/day). The consumption of the grasses by a barking deer was from 4.58 to 4.65 kg/day (Avg. 5.00 kg/day) in winter season, from 4.6 to 4.9 kg/day (avg. 4.75 kg/day) in summer and 5.00 to 5.08 kg/day (avg. 4.6 kg/day) in monsoon (Fig. 1). So, the consumption was the highest in winter season followed by summer and monsoon. The consumption of the granular food by a barking deer was 0.56 to 0.63 kg/day (avg. 1.00 kg/day) in winter season, 0.44 to 0.56 kg/day (Avg. 1.25 kg/day) in summer season and 0.44 to 0.58 kg/day (Avg 1.25 kg/day) in monsoon. So, the granular food consumption was the highest in summer and monsoon, and the lowest in winter. The consumption of the vegetables by a barking deer was from 0.56 to 0.63 kg/day (Avg. 0.60 kg/day) in winter, from 0.44 to 0.56 kg/day (Avg. 0.50 kg/day) in summer and from 0.44 to 0.58 kg/day (Avg. 0.50 kg/day) in monsoon. So, the vegetables was the highest in winter and the lowest in summer and monsoon. It was observed that the barking deer consumed slightly more food in winter than in other seasons. Statistically, however, there was no significance in food intake in different seasons.
Food consumption of barking deer 129 The deer did not feel disturbed during the time of food supply. The food was supplied once a day. The males were more active than the females during feeding. It was noted that the males ate more granular food than the females, and the females ate more vegetables than the males. They finished their feeding within one to two hours. It was also noted that the feeding activity of the males was higher in the morning and evening but in the case of the females the feeding activity was higher in the evening than in the morning. After feeding they drunk water from the water tank and took rest under the shady place within the enclosure. Table 1. Grass, granular foods and vegetables consumed by a barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak) in different seasons in captivity. Name of the food Food consumption (kg/day) Winter Summer Monsoon Grass 5.00 4.75 4.60 Granular food 1.00 1.25 1.25 Vegetables 0.60 0.50 0.50 Vidyadarun et al. (1993) noted that deer consumed a wide variety of grasses, leaves and shrubs. Prater (1980) described that the barking deer ate grasses, leaves and various kinds of wild fruit. The total average food consumption by a barking deer was 6.48 kg/day, Mattiello et al. (1997) noted that deer needed a daily feed supplement consisting of hay (2.7 kg/deer) and the meal consisted to 50% corn and 50% bran (1 kg/deer) in addition to grasses in an enclosure, where total amount was not reported. In the present study, it was observed that the barking deer consumed a larger amount of food in winter than in the other seasons of the year. Adamic (1989) noted that food selection was primarily conditioned by the environmental situation. Adam et al. (1992) noted that, in red deer the voluntary food intake increased during winter. During feeding barking deer group size was large. Schall et al. (1991) noted that fallow bucks occasionally join groups of females in open areas used for feeding. Mattiello et al. (1997) noted that in the feeding station, the highest number of groups was observed. They also noted that the highest percentage of groups was observed in the morning when supplementary feed was delivered. In captivity, the male were more active than the females in the feeding period. The male ate more hay than the females. Mattielo (1997) observed that the adult
130 Ahmed and Sarker females ate more pasture than the adult males. Reinken (1990) noted that females were found in a place where pasture is more abundant. Fig. 1. Seasonal variation in the food consumption of a barking deer, Muntiacus muntjak in captivity. In the present study the deer did never feel disturbed when the visitors came close to the enclosure. Humphries et al. (1989) observed that fallow deer seemed to adapt very well to the presence of humans. In the present study each barking deer took 15 g of iodine salt per day. Vidyadaran et al. (1993) noted that most of the farms provided concentrated salt licks as feed supplements. There was always sufficient water available in each enclosure. Care should be taken that there is always sufficient water available, water shortage decreases the digestibility of food; especially of cellulose and deer will lose weight. (Anton de Vos 1982). LITERATURE CITED ADAMIC, M. 1989 The nutritional characteristics as the element of conservation, breeding and hunting planning of the ungulate game with the emphasis on the red deer. Gozdarski-glasnik (Yugoslavia) 47(4): 145-162. ADAM, C.L., KYLE, C.E. and YOUNG, P. 1992. Growth and reproductive development of the red deer calves born out of season. British Society of Animal Production, pp. 265-269. AWAL, A. SARKER, N.J. KHAN, R.I. and HUSAIN, K.Z. 1992. Breeding records of samber deer (Cervus unicolor keer) in captivity. Bangladesh. J. Zool. 20(2): 285-290. DE VOS, A. 1990. Applying experience in New Zealand deer farming developing countries. Unasylva (FAO) 41(161): 26-32. FLETCHER, T. 1989. Deer farming in Europe. Press syndicate of the University of Cambridge. pp. 322-333.
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