Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Studies on feed digestibilities in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).
Abstract: In order to test the suitability of the horse as a nutritional model for elephants, digestibility studies were performed with six captive Asian elephants on six different dietary regimes, using the double marker method with acid detergent lignin as an internal and chromium oxide as an external digestibility marker. Elephants resembled horses in the way dietary supplements and dietary crude fibre content influenced digestibility, in calcium absorption parameters and in faecal volatile fatty acid composition. However, the absolute digestibility coefficients achieved for all nutrients are distinctively lower in elephants. This is because of much faster ingesta passage rates reported for elephants. No answer is given to why elephants do not make use of their high digestive potential theoretically provided by their immense body weight. Differences in volatile fatty acid concentrations between these captive elephants and those reported from elephants from the wild are in accord with a reported high dependence of free-ranging elephants on browse forage.
Publication Date: 2003-09-27 PubMed ID: 14511142DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0396.2003.00429.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article explores the differences between the digestive systems of horses and Asian elephants, considering changes in feed, and the associated uptake of nutrients. It concludes that while there are some similarities between the two species, there are significant differences that potentially impact the health and wellbeing of elephants, especially in captive environments.
Objective of the Research
- The main aim of the research was to determine whether horses could be used as a nutritional model for Asian elephants. This was achieved by studying the digestibility of various food sources in elephants and comparing the results with known data about horses.
Methodology
- The researchers used six captive Asian elephants and monitored their digestive processes with six different dietary regimes, employing the double marker method. This method is widely accepted as a reliable way to monitor nutrient uptake and digestive efficiency.
- Two types of digestibility markers were used: internal (acid detergent lignin) and external (chromium oxide). These markers provided information about how effectively the elephants were able to obtain nutrients from different types of feed.
Findings
- Similar to horses, the elephants’ ability to digest food and absorb nutrients was influenced by dietary supplements and the crude fibre content of their diet.
- In terms of calcium absorption parameters and faecal volatile fatty acid composition, the elephants resembled horses.
- However, the cumulative digestibility coefficients for all nutrients were distinctly lower in the elephants because the rate at which they processed ingested food was faster.
Implications
- The research does not explain why, despite their immense body weight which theoretically would provide high digestive potential, elephants did not fully utilize this potential.
- The researchers found differences in the faecal volatile fatty acid concentrations between elephants in captivity and those living in the wild. This suggests that an elephant’s digestive process is substantially influenced by its diet and environmental conditions. It supports earlier findings indicating a heavy reliance of free-ranging elephants on browse forage.
Cite This Article
APA
Clauss M, Loehlein W, Kienzle E, Wiesner H.
(2003).
Studies on feed digestibilities in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 87(3-4), 160-173.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0396.2003.00429.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Physiological Chemistry and Animal Nutrition, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany. clauss@tiph.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Animals, Zoo
- Biomarkers / analysis
- Dietary Fiber / metabolism
- Digestion
- Elephants / metabolism
- Fatty Acids, Volatile / analysis
- Feces / chemistry
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Transit / physiology
- Lignin / metabolism
- Male
- Models, Animal
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Feng X, Hua R, Zhang W, Liu Y, Luo C, Li T, Chen X, Zhu H, Wang Y, Lu Y. Comparison of the gut microbiome and resistome in captive African and Asian elephants on the same diet. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:986382.
- Pontzer H, Rimbach R, Paltan J, Ivory EL, Kendall CJ. Air temperature and diet influence body composition and water turnover in zoo-living African elephants (Loxodonta africana). R Soc Open Sci 2020 Nov;7(11):201155.
- Finch K, Sach F, Fitzpatrick M, Masters N, Rowden LJ. Longitudinal Improvements in Zoo-Housed Elephant Welfare: A Case Study at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 4;10(11).
- Budd K, Gunn JC, Finch T, Klymus K, Sitati N, Eggert LS. Effects of diet, habitat, and phylogeny on the fecal microbiome of wild African savanna (Loxodonta africana) and forest elephants (L. cyclotis). Ecol Evol 2020 Jun;10(12):5637-5650.
- Sach F, Dierenfeld ES, Langley-Evans SC, Hamilton E, Murray Lark R, Yon L, Watts MJ. Potential bio-indicators for assessment of mineral status in elephants. Sci Rep 2020 May 15;10(1):8032.
- Sander PM, Christian A, Clauss M, Fechner R, Gee CT, Griebeler EM, Gunga HC, Hummel J, Mallison H, Perry SF, Preuschoft H, Rauhut OW, Remes K, Tütken T, Wings O, Witzel U. Biology of the sauropod dinosaurs: the evolution of gigantism. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2011 Feb;86(1):117-55.
- Connor RC. Dolphin social intelligence: complex alliance relationships in bottlenose dolphins and a consideration of selective environments for extreme brain size evolution in mammals. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2007 Apr 29;362(1480):587-602.
- Clauss M, Frey R, Kiefer B, Lechner-Doll M, Loehlein W, Polster C, Rössner GE, Streich WJ. The maximum attainable body size of herbivorous mammals: morphophysiological constraints on foregut, and adaptations of hindgut fermenters. Oecologia 2003 Jun;136(1):14-27.
- Rajashekara S, Konyak MK, Sarala R, Poojashree KS, Bai P, Nagabhushana J. Is sacred animal (Asian Elephant) can be a medicinal repository: a new approach for colon cancer treatment using the methanolic extracts of the dung samples and their valuation for antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and apoptotic actions. BMC Complement Med Ther 2025 Aug 1;25(1):295.
- Maier I, Kienzle E. A Meta-Analysis on Quantitative Sodium, Potassium and Chloride Metabolism in Horses and Ponies. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 13;15(2).
- Thorel M, Obregon D, Mulot B, Maitre A, Mateos-Hernandez L, Moalic PY, Wu-Chuang A, Cabezas-Cruz A, Leclerc A. Conserved core microbiota in managed and free-ranging Loxodonta africana elephants. Front Microbiol 2023;14:1247719.
- Watanabe K, Kondo M, Ikenaka Y, Nakayama SMM, Ishizuka M. A Comparative Genomic and Phylogenetic Investigation of the Xenobiotic Metabolism Enzymes of Cytochrome P450 in Elephants Shows Loss in CYP2E and CYP4A. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 9;13(12).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
