tarch and fiber intake effects on energy metabolism, growth, and carapacial scute pyramiding of red-footed tortoise hatchlings (Chelonoidis carbonaria

Author(s)

Mendoza, Pierina ^{[1, 2]} ; Furuta, Camila ^[1] ; Garcia, Beatriz ^[3] ; Zena, Lucas A. ^[4] ; Artoni, Silvana ^[5] ; Dierenfeld, Ellen S. ^{[6, 7]} ; Bicego, Kenia C. ^[5] ; Carciofi, Aulus C. ^[8]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Sch Agr & Veterinarian Sci, Dept Anim Sci, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[2] Wildhunger Wildlife Nutr Advisory, Lima - Peru

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Sch Agr & Vet Sci, Dept Biol Sci, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Gothenburg, Dept Biol & Environm Sci, S-41390 Gothenburg - Sweden

^[5] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Sch Agr & Veterinarian Sci, Dept Anim Morphol & Physiol, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[6] Nottingham Trent Univ, Sch Anim Rural & Environm Sci, Nottingham - England

^[7] Zootrit Consulting, St Louis, MO - USA

^[8] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Sch Agr & Veterinarian Sci, Dept Vet Clin & Surg, Via Acesso Prof Paulo Donato Castellane S-N, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY; v. 265, MAR 2022.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Tortoise husbandry includes reports of excessive growth and carapace pyramiding, although triggers still remain to be fully elucidated. Juvenile red-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonaria) were fed with two different diets, one high in fiber (HF; 14.2% crude fiber; 39.2% neutral detergent fiber, NDF; dry matter basis, DMB) and one high in starch (HS; 27.7% DMB), to assess effects on energy metabolism, nutrient digestibility, and growth. A total of 20 hatchlings (10 per diet) were used to evaluate: apparent digestibility coefficients (Da) of nutrients and gross energy (GE), passage times at 5 and 11 months of age; resting and post-prandial metabolic rates at 6 and 12 months of age; growth rates; pyramiding; and estimated body composition. Animals fed HS showed higher mass-specific intake of digestible energy (113.9 +/- 32.1 kJ kg(-1) day(-1) vs. 99.6 +/- 35.3 kJ kg(-1) day(-1); P < 0.05), digestible DM (6.1 +/- 1.8 g kg(-1) day(-1) vs. 5.0 +/- 1.8 g kg(-1) day(-1); P < 0.01), shorter transit (3 +/- 1 days vs. 4 +/- 1 days; P < 0.01) and retention times (8 +/- 2 days vs. 10 +/- 2 days; P < 0.01), and higher Da of DM, starch, NDF, and GE. Crude protein Da was higher for HF. Rest and post-prandial metabolic rates, and pyramiding degree were not affected by diets. At 13 months, the animals from HS presented wider plastrons and carapaces, and higher carapace width growth rates. In addition, these animals had lower body mineral content (1.88 +/- 0.15% vs. 2.15 +/- 0.19%; P < 0.01) and bone density (0.13 +/- 0.01 g mm(-2) vs. 0.15 +/- 0.02 g mm(-2); P < 0.02). Results provide evidence that highly digestible foods can accelerate shell growth and lower mineralization in this species. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/14923-0 - Effect of starch and fiber on the energy metabolism and growth of red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria)
• Grantee: Pierina Jocelyn Mendoza Yengle
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master