Comparative ability of northern pintails, gadwalls, and northern shovelers to metabolize foods
Journal of Wildlife Management
By: M. R. Miller
Links
- The Publications Warehouse does not have links to digital versions of this publication at this time
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Feeding trials were used to compare the ability of northern pintails (Anas acuta), gadwalls (A. strepera), and northern shovelers (A. clypeata) to metabolize energy from a turkey starter ration, alfalfa pellets, and common barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crusgalli) seeds. No differences (P > 0.05) were detected among the three species for any of the three foods (kg body weight/day basis), for dry matter intake (DMI), body weight gain (BWG), apparent metabolizable energy (AME), or metabolized energy (MEE) on any given diet consumed in quantities large enough to promote body weight gain. The AME content of alfalfa was 57% less than the value for turkey starter and 50% less than for barnyardgrass seeds. All three species metabolized more energy and gained weight faster when fed turkey starter. Energy modeling may be facilitated if additional research verifies that all species of dabbling ducks have equal ability to obtain energy from foods available to them in the wild. Behavioral and morphological factors may be more important in defining feeding niches than digestive physiology, at least for the three duck species tested, at the time of year of the experiments, and within the limits of the quality of foods used.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Comparative ability of northern pintails, gadwalls, and northern shovelers to metabolize foods |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 1984 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | p. 362-370 |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| First page | 362 |
| Last page | 370 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |