Voerbeskikbaarheid en voedingswaarde van die belangrikste voedselplante van die Kameelperd <i>Giraffa camelopardalis</i> (Linnaeus, 1758) in die Willem Pretoriuswildtuin, Oranje-Vrystaat

• Main Authors: O.B. Kok, D.P.J. Opperman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AOSIS 1985-11-01
• Series: Koedoe: African Protected Area Conservation and Science
• Online Access: https://koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/article/view/532

Chemiese analises is op die belangrikste oedselitems van die kameelperd Giraffa camelopardalis in die Willem Pretoriuswildtuin, Oranje-Vrystaat, uitgevoer. Die ruproteieninhoud en verteerbare organiese materiaal van blare van veral bladwisselende plantsoorte toon 'n styging gedurende die voorsomer waarna 'n geleidelike afname tot met die wintermaande plaasvind. Dit wil voorkom asof die teenoorgestelde tendens vir die suurverteerbare veselfraksie geld. Geen statisties-betekenisvolle verband kon tussen enige van die voedingsfraksies en die benuttingsfrekwensie van individuele plantsoorte aangetoon word nie. Aanduidings bestaan dat voedselseleksie hoofsaaklik deur die beskikbaarheid van voedselplante beinvloed word. Droemateriaalopbrengs van geselekteerde houtagtige voedselplante toon 'n duidelike verwantskap met buitebosoppervlakte en bosvolume. Geoordeel aan die hoeveelheid voer wat gedurende die kritieke wintertydperk beskikbaar is, kan 'n absolute maksimum van 43 kameelperde op 'n permanente basis in die wildtuin onderhou word. Chemical analyses of the most important food items of the giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis in the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, Orange Free State, were carried out. The crude protein content and digestible organic material of leaves, especially from deciduous plant species, show an increase during early summer after which a gradual decrease takes place till winter. It seems as if the opposite trend applies to the acid digestible fibre fraction. No statistically significant relationship between any of the feeding fractions and utilization frequency of individual plant species could be demonstrated. Indications are that the selection of food is influenced mainly by the availability of food plants. The yield of dry material of selected woody food plants shows a distinct relationship with outer bush surface and bush volume. Based on the amount of browse available during the critical winter period, an absolute maximum of 43 giraffe can be supported in the game reserve on a permanent basis.