Digestive physiology of East African wild ruminants.

Abstract

The physiology of digestion of wild ruminants in their natural habitat was determined. The study consisted of fifty-one adult male animals representing sixteen species. While diet and body weight were both related to the gastrointestinal composition, body weight appeared to be the more influential factor. Reticulo-rumen and caecal-colon composition, relative to abomasal and small intestinal composition, showed the greater species, diet and body weight effects. The buffalo, oryx and gerenuk were somewhat more unique in gastrointestinal composition than were other species of wild ruminants, and were deserving of special consideration.