TY  - JOUR
T1  - Fibrous Diets for Herbivore Tortoises
AU - Hetènyi, N. AU - Hullár, I. AU - Lang, Zs. AU - Andrásofszky, E. 
JO  - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
VL  - 18
IS  - 5
SP  - 139
EP  - 142
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1680-5593
DO  - javaa.2019.139.142
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2019.139.142
KW  - Testudo
KW  -dry matter intake
KW  -diet in captivity
KW  -fibre deficiency
KW  -accelerated growth rate
KW  -prevention
AB  - Herbivore tortoises such as Hermann&#146;s tortoises <i>(Testudo hermanni)</i> consume a wide variety of
fibrous feeds in the nature. Contrary to that in captivity tortoises get feeds low in Crude Fibre (CF) which leads
to fibre deficiency and accelerated growth rate. Aim of our study was to investigate the Dry Matter (DM) intake
of Hermann&#146;s tortoises in connection with CF and DM contents of the diets. Tortoises (n = 10, body weight:
683.7&plusmn;89.8 g) were housed individually. Three diets (A: DM 6.6%, CF 16.5%/DM; B: DM 9.5%, CF 22.1% DM
and C: DM 18.9%, CF 27.4% DM) were prepared by using the same components (chopped lettuce, carrot and
meadow hay) in different proportions. The 24 h feed intakes were tested for 3&times;4 days/diet with 2 weeks of
acclimatisation. The DM intake of the tortoises was lower in case of diet C compared to diet A and B (p<0.001).
Diet A and B did not differ significantly (p = 0.801). According to our results, the CF should be
between 22.1-27.4% on DM basis to decrease the feed consumption, hence, preventing the fast growth rate.
ER  -