engleski

FOOD INTAKE AND MASS GAIN OF HAND-REARED BROWN BEAR CUBS

Five orphaned European brown bear cubs (Ursus arctos) from three litters were hand-reared since the ages of 1 or 4 months and masses 1.7-2.8 kg. The growth rate was monitored with special reference to the food used. Over the period of 3 years 6 different feed formulas were used. The first four were bottle nursed till the average age of 133 days. The conversion of all feed formulas in the first 10 months ranged 3.5-32.0 g of food for g body mass (or 38.1-192.6 kJ/g body mass), and was influenced mostly by the food composition. The high content of fat showed as good, and high content of carbohydrates as bad indicator. The feed formula 3, with 12.0% proteins, 23.9% fats and only 0.2% carbohydrates, was a simulation of bear milk and showed the best results. The feed formula 6 (bread, fruits and meat) was used from ages of 7 to 35 months and over this period the conversion gradually decreased 3.8 times as a consequence of maturing process. Hand-reared cubs were 1.3-2.7 times larger than 17 measured wild cubs at matching ages, which is explained by limitations imposed to the mother by hibernation and mainly herbivorous diet.

Ursus arctos; food conversion; growth

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