NUTRITION OF LABORATORY, WILD AND ZOO ANIMALS
Juli Chakma1 and Yora Reena2
1, 2Assistant Professor, Dept. of Animal Nutrition, IVSAH, SOA, Bhubaneswar, 751003
Terminology:
•	Brokpas/ Drokpas: It is a small ethnic community who herds yak.
•	Merycism: It is the process of regurgitation and remastication in non-ruminants. 
•	Pseudoruminant: They are cud chewing animals having stomach with three compartments.
•	Geophagia: The term indicates consumption of soil, mostly observed in wildlife to meet the requirements of trace minerals.
•	Carnivores: Meat eating animals. Eg. Lion, tiger, panther, wolf, hyena.
•	Omnivores: Eats both plants and animals’ origin food. Eg rodents, flying fox, sloth, bears, non-human primates
•	Herbivores: Plant eating animals. Example: Gaur, deer, giraffe, antelopes like blackbuck, buffaloes etc.
•	Foregut Fermenters: They have a voluminous compartmentalized or sacculated forestomach. 
•	Hindgut fermenters: They have capacious, sacculated large intestine and compartmentalized caecum. Eg of Caecal fermenters are- guinea pigs, capybara and zebra and eg. of colon fermenters is wild asses. 
•	Pseudoruminant: They are cud chewing and having stomach with three compartments. Eg. Mouse deer, camels and llamas. 
•	Total Parenteral nutrition: It is an effective pharmacologic therapy that supplies vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, electrolytes, and nutrients straight into the bloodstreams.
•	Clear fluid diets- It is given to patients with significant intolerance to foods as manifested by nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite etc. main objective is to provide some calories and maintain hydration in body of patient. Eg. Glucose water (10%), Barley water, Tender coconut water and orange juice.
•	Full fluid diets- It's administered to sick animals that can't chew or ingest solid meals.
•	Soft diets- Diets which are prescribed in acute infection, gastrointestinal disorder and in post operative cases.

Refresher points:
Nutrition of Laboratory animals-
•	The laboratory animals include rabbits, guineapig, hamster, chinchilla, gerbil, vole, degu.
•	The animals used for experimentation purposes in India are guinea pig, hamsters, mice, rats and rabbits. 
•	Like the, rat, mouse and rabbit, the guinea pig is simple stomached but in contrast to these species the entire stomach of guinea pig is lined with glandular epithelium. 
•	Intestine allows growth of gram-positive bacterial flora.
•	The organ resembles that of rabbit and possibly has similar digestive functions, e.g. synthesis of B vitamins and indispensable amino acids by microorganism and recycling of intestinal contents by coprophagy.
•	As laboratory animal guinea pigs are mainly used for production of sera, vaccines and other biological products.
•	Guinea pigs are important for diagnostic research due to its high susceptibility to infectious diseases like tuberculosis, diphtheria, leptospirosis and brucellosis.
•	Guinea pig is a strictly herbivorous animal and have good appetite
•	They eat regularly during day as well as night.
•	Energy requirement for maintenance is 136 kcal/kgW0.75.
•	Guinea pigs are fed with 2 types of diets at a time i.e. the stock diet (concentrates) and green fodders.
•	Green fodders like berseem, lucern, cabbage and cowpea etc. are offered on addition to the stock diet. 
•	Vitamin A, E and K are required to be supplied in the diet, vitamin D is not needed if Ca, P ratio is adequate
•	Ascorbic acid is required by the guinea pig as they cannot synthesize the vitamin C, about 6 mg of ascorbic acid is required for a 300 g guineapig. 

Guineapig (Cavia porcellus):
Reproduction – 1 Male: 5 female
Litter size: 1 to 8 (avg 3.5)
Birth weight: 85 to 100g
Weaning age: 12 to 14 d (or at 170g bwt)
Age to breed: 2.5 to 3 months
Gestation period: 66 to 72 d (68±2)
No. of litters/year: 3	
Avg body wt. of an adult: 500g
Consumption of feed @ 7 to 8% of bwt.
Feed consumption: Growing – 20 to 30 g/d
                                Adult -    30 to 50 g/d
                                Pregnant & Lactating – 40 to 60 g/d

Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
•	The males attain 25 g weight in 5-6 weeks, while the females takes 7-8 weeks.
•	But rats of weaning attain 35 g and at one year attain 500 g and female rat about 300 of weight.
•	The protein content in their stock diets varies between 14-15% with about 3000kcal.
•	Maintenance energy requirement of adult rat is 114 Kcal ME/BW kg 0.75.
Birth weight: 4-5 g (may fall below 4g if litter size is 10 -12)
Eyes are opened at: 14-16 d
Litter size: 4 to 8 
Weaning age: 21 d (or 35g)
Age to breed: 2.5 to 3 months
Gestation period: 21 d
No. of litters in life time: 5-7/rat	
Avg bwt of an adult: 203g (male) and 193g (female)
Feed intake: Growing & adult at maintenance – 15 g/rat/d
              Pregnant rats -    15 to 20 g/rat/d
              Lactating – 30 to 40 g/rat/d 
Nutrition of Wild and Zoo Animals-
•	Wildlife/Zoo animals classified into 3 division (based on type of food they eat): Carnivores, Omnivores and Herbivores.
•	Two types of herbivores- Non ruminant herbivores and Ruminant herbivores
•	Further, non-ruminant herbivores are divided into 2 parts: 
a)	Pregastric/ Foregut Fermenters: Eg. Kangaroos, wallabies, peccaries and hippopotamus. 
b)	Hindgut fermenters: Eg. Horse, ass, zebra, elephant, rabbit, rhinoceros. 
•	Linoleic and alpha linolenic acids are present in plants and animals while arachidonic acid does not occur in plants. 
•	For many herbivorous and omnivorous animals, arachidonic acid is not a dietary requirement as long as linoleic acid is in the diet.
•	Strict carnivores such as cats, lions, tiger and leopard cannot convert linoleic acid to arachidonic acid due to low or absent of delta -5-desaturase activity 
•	The three sources of water that wild and zoo animals get are free water that they directly consume, preformed water found in food, and oxidative/metabolic water. 
•	Water intake in Indian rhinoceros- 3.5-5.2 L/kg DM and in Elephant- approx. 200L of water/day.
•	In tropical climates, red ant, heaves and termites are often used as mineral licks by wild mammals (mainly by carnivores).
•	Sodium requirements for wildlife are 0.05 to 0.4% of the dry diet. 
•	Granivores are most susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. 
•	The kidneys of reptiles, most birds, amphibians, and monotremes produce ascorbic acid. Human beings, guinea pigs, frugivorous bats lack the enzyme L-gulunolactone oxidase that is required for the synthesis of the vitamin C. 
•	Fodder offered to captive animals showed five-fold higher linoleic acid compared to alpha linolenic acid. 
•	A minimum of 0.7% Ca and 0.4% P is suggested for elk rations.
•	Hardened deer antlers contain about 22% calcium and 11% phosphorus. 
•	A diet of 0.64% Ca and 0.56% P is necessary for antler growth. 
Feeding habits and feeding schedule of Wild/Zoo animals-
•	Carnivores like tigers and lions find that larger meat portions satisfy their hunger more quickly than smaller ones do. 
•	Wild dogs usually eats in standing position in a hurried gulping manner as much food as they can and finish eating their prey quickly to avoid any undue attention.
•	Lions, tigers, and jaguars prefers chewing bones, although panthers do not engage in this practice as often.
•	In lion, tiger and jaguar the posture of consumption is of extending the forelegs and holding the meat while the hindlegs are tucked up within the body. 
•	The eating habits of large feline, such as tigers, lions, panthers, and jaguars, are characterised by a leisurely pace, ranging from 16.5 to 39 minutes.
•	Lions prefers to drink water right after feeding, but tigers prefer to lick the cage wall a few times before taking a sip. 
•	Tiger, jaguar, and panther predilection for chicken meat over beef; lions and tigers exhibit distinctive restlessness upon hearing the sound and arrival of the meal delivery vehicle following the weekly hunger.
•	Wild felids are obligate carnivores. 
•	Elephants use their trunks as prehensile organs. They may striked the grass with their legs to remove any dirt or sand, and then they may use their trunks to carry the food into their mouths.
•	Bears have the habit of climbing the trees or rocks in order to remove the bee-hives and by using forelimbs, the hives are destroyed and use to suck honey in addition to lapping using tongue.
DMI of Wild Mammals:
•	DMI of certain mammals is as follows – 
Wild buffalo 1.6-1.7% of body weight (BW), 
Wild sheep 1.7 4.8% BW, 
Wild goat 1.5 5.9% BW and 
Elephant 1.4-1.6% BW. 
In male and female giraffes, it is 1.6 and 2.1% BW, respectively. 
The DMI in black buck based on the type of green fodder is as follows-2.2-3.5% BW on oats and berseem fodder; 2.2% BW on maize fodder.
•	Asiatic elephants (Elephas maximus) are categorized as an endangered species by IUCN. Elephants are the largest terrestrial mammals. 
•	They are mixed feeders preferring grasses, yet consuming leaves, branches and bark of trees.
•	Elephants spend most of the day preparing and eating their feed as they have to consume large quantities mainly for two reasons: large size (as adult weighs up to 4000- 5000 kg) and poor feed utilization. Adults are reported to spend 18-20 hrs daily in the feeding activity itself. 
Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) 
•	Two genera: Choeropsis liberiensis (Pigmy hippopotamus) & Hippopotamus amphibious (hippopotamus)
•	Hippopotamus are the 2nd largest 	land animals, first being the elephants.
•	Sebaceous gland is absent in hippos.
•	Birth weight of young one is 42kg.
•	They are fed on no. of species of short grasses which are cut by a plucking motion of large lips.
•	Feeding time is about 5-6 hrs in night and rest of the time is spent in the water. 
•	It is a non-ruminant pre-gastric fermenter.
Bear 
•	They are true omnivores.
•	Chief diet consists of ber berries, fruits of achar, various tendus, amaltas, jamun, figs, bel and the flowers of mahua tree, white ants, honey and insects.
Rhinoceros
•	One-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
•	Rhinoceros are herbivores
•	Indian rhinos are mainly grazers, they use a prehensile upper lip to gather tall grasses and shrubs.
•	Experimental feeding: (Kumar et al., 2012)
•	Body weight of rhinoceroses: 1636-1655 kg
•	DMI through concentrate mixture: 7 kg/d
•	DMI through wheat straw: 4.85-5.54 kg/d
•	DMI through green fodder: Sugarcane (6.72 kg/d)
	                                      Berseem (7.74 kg/d)
	                                      			M.P. Chari (8.47 kg/d)
•	Captive blackbucks (Antelope cervicapra) of weight 25-35kg, feeds on fresh oats and berseem.
•	Moles:  Class of mammals belongs to Talpidae under which is part of the insectivore order, includes moles. Talpa europea, the common mole, is a tiny insectivore that has evolved to live underground via digging. 90% of their diet consists of soil invertebrates that they are fed. They also eat insects and their larvae; earthworms may be a staple of their diet. Plant-based feed, such as tulips, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, peas, beans, oats, corn and wheat, makes up about 20% of their diet.
•	Shrews are small, mouse like mammal with short legs, having pointed nose and long tail. Weighs upto-35g. they are insectivorous in their diet but also behave as carnivore.
•	Hedgehog:  An animal with spines that eats insects. Whereas porcupines have sharp spines, they have hollow hair. It consumes eggs, chicken, frogs, insects, and tiny snakes as food. They resembles like a sea urchin.
•	Indian pangolin (Scaly anteater): Feeds on ants and termites.
•	Otters (Luthra perspicillata): Aquatic mammals and predators in the river. Their existence is sign of pollution free water, thriving aquatic life and well protected forests. Fish, crabs, oysters, lobsters, prawns, and snakes are among its prey. The IUCN has classified them as endangered species. The 1972 Wildlife Protection Act of India placed otters in Schedule II.

Metabolic disorders in wildlife:
•	Ketosis/acetonemia: Common in wild ruminants like giraffe, deer, antelope, wild goat, wild sheep & wild bovid. Ketosis in wild ruminants is characterized by ketonemia, ketonurea, ketolactea, hypoglycemia, poor liver glycogen content and characteristic of ketone bodies (sweet to vinegar smell).
•	Neonatal hypoglycemia: Occurs due to insufficient intake of colostrum or milk from mother. Symptoms may be pale skin, weakness, recumbency, hypothermia, convulsion.
•	Parturient paresis: occurs in newly fawned deer or antelopes that have given birth. Affects gaur, mithun, ruminants etc. Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia may be the cause.
•	Lactation tetany: wild equids (zebras, wild asses & wild horses) are affected more.
•	Colic: mostly encountered in case of elephants in severe metabolic disturbances like acidosis.
•	Hypothyroidism: Due to iodine deficiency in wild mammals causes obesity, alopecia, dullness with lethargic movements & lowered serum cholesterol.
Nutrition of common birds and pet birds-

(*Klasing K.C. 1998; Comparative Animal Nutrition, CAB International)
•	Mostly birds are seed eaters (Granivores), except for some fruits, grass, insect, pollen eating birds.
•	Faunivores are birds that consume foods almost exclusively of animal origin while florivores consume plant matter. 
•	Birds that consume primarily grasses are graminivores (eg. Geese, swan).
•	Birds that probe or drill for the saps, gums or resins in plants are known as Exudativores.  
•	Birds (Flamingo) that filter or select zooplankton from the water are known as planktonivores. 
•	Grinding of the feed takes place in the proventriculus or gizzard.
•	Grit feeds is of two types- Soluble (eg. Oyster shell, cuttlefish) and insoluble (eg. stones, crushed granite).
•	Insoluble grit feed helps to grind feed in proventriculus. 
•	Two types of young birds- Nidicolous chicks/ Altricial birds and Nidifugous chicks/ Precocial birds.
•	Altricial birds cannot move soon after hatch, therefore need proper nourishment and care.
•	Precocial birds can move around and pick up their own food. 
•	Song birds are called Passerine. 
•	Chicks are fed until their mouths close. 
•	Mynah birds are frugivore and faunivores. They are nether seed eaters nor need grits (soluble/insoluble). 
•	Lories and Lorikeets eats nectar and pollen.

Nutrition of Mithun and Yak
•	Mithun (Bos frontalis) is reared under free grazing condition. 
•	It thrives on the jungle forages, tree fodders, shrubs, herbs and other wild vegetation. 
•	They are selective grazer. 
•	The salt licking behaviour of Mithun is a way to meet the requirements of minerals. 
•	Mithun is reared for meat purpose. 
•	According to ICAR 2013, maintenance requirement of Mithun weighing 400 kg BW: DM (6.2 kg), DCP (330g) and TDN (3.8 kg). 
•	ICAR -National Research Centre on Mithun located at Jarnapani, Nagaland 1988.
•	Yak (Bos grunniens) is a multipurpose animal found in high altitude of 3000-6000 metre above sea level. 
•	The yak's low efficiency in converting carotenes into vitamin A is evident from the high yellow pigmentation of butter fat in its milk. 
•	Yaks are reared under free range system by Brokpas or Drokpas. 
•	ICAR established National Research Centre on Yak at Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh in 1989.

Table 1: Requirements for compounded feeds for Guineapigs (BIS)
Characteristics	Requirements	
Moisture (max)	10%	
CP (min)	22%	
EE (min)	4%	
CF	9-14%	
TA	9%	
AIA (max)	1%	
Ca (min)	1.2%	
P (min)	0.6%	
Vit. C (min)	200 mg/kg	

Table 2: Nutrient Requirement for growth of Guinea pig (NRC, 1995)
Characteristics	Requirement	
Moisture, %	10.0	
Protein %	15.0	
Essential fatty acids %	0.13 – 0.4	
Fibre %	15.0	
Arginine %	0.12	
Lysine %	0.84	
Methionine %	0.6	
Ca %	0.8	
P %	0.4	
Vit A (Retinol) mg/kg	6.6	
Vit. D3 mg/kg	0.025	
Vit. E mg/kg	26.7	
Vit C mg/kg	200	
Biotin mg/kg	0.2	
Choline mg/kg	1800	
Folic acid mg/kg	3.0-6.0	
Niacin mg/kg	10	
Pantothenic acid mg/kg	20	
Pyridoxine mg/kg	2.0-3.0	
Riboflavin mg/kg	3.0	
Thiamine mg/kg	2.0	

Table 3: Requirement of Compounded Feed for Laboratory Mice and Rats (BIS)
Characteristics	Requirement	
Moisture, % (Max.) by weight	10	
CP, % (Min.) by weight	24	
EE. % (Min.) by weight	5	
CF. % (Max.) by weight	6	
Total ash. % (Max.) by weight	9	
AIA. % (Max.) by weight	1	
Ca, % (Min.) by weight	0.6	
Available P, % (Min.) by weight	0.3	
Tryptophan, %(Min.) by weight	0.2	
L- lysine, %(Min.) by weight	1.0	
Methionine + lysine, % (Min.) by weight	0.8	
L – Arginine, % (Min.) by weight	0.2	
EAA, % (Min.) by weight	0.2	
VitA, IU/kg (Min.)	2700	
Vit D, IU/kg (Min.)	200	
Vit E, mg/kg (Min.)	40	
Vit B12, mg/kg (Min.)	6	
Calcium d-Pentothenate, mg/kg (Min.)	20	
Nicotinic acid, mg /kg(Min.)	60	
Vit B1 , mg/kg(Min.)	10	
Choline, mg/kg (Min.)	1100	

Table 4: Nutrient requirement for maintenance, growth and reproduction of mice & rats (NRC, 1995)
Characteristics	Maintenance	Growth	Reproduction (female)	
Moisture %	10	10	10.0	
Protein %	5	15	15	
Linoleic acid %	0.6	0.6	0.6	
Arginine %	ND	0.43	0.43	
Lysine %	0.11	0.92	0.92	
Methionine+cystine %	0.23	0.98	0.98	
Ca %	ND	0.50	0.63	
P %	ND	0.30	0.37	
Vit A (Retinol) mg/kg	ND	0.70	0.70	
Vit. D3 mg/kg	ND	0.025	0.025	
Vit. E mg/kg	ND	18	18	
Biotin mg/kg	ND	0.2	0.2	
Choline mg/kg	ND	750	750	
Folic acid mg/kg	ND	1.0	1.0	
Niacin mg/kg	ND	15.0	15.0	
Pantothenic acid mg/kg	ND	10.0	10,0	
Pyridoxine mg/kg	ND	6.0	6.0	
Riboflavin mg/kg	ND	3.0	4.0	
Thiamine mg/kg	ND	4.0	4.0	
Vit. B12 (mg/kg)	ND	50.0	50.0	

Fill ups: 
1.	Guinea pig adult animals consume diet @ 7 to 8% of bwt. 
2.	Adult guinea pig required 30-50g and 40-60 g during pregnancy and lactation depending upon the litter size and season.
3.	The crude fibre requirement as per BIS in guinea pigs is 9 to 14%.
4.	The crude protein requirement as per BIS in guinea pigs is 22%.
5.	The minimum daily requirement for vitamin C in the guinea pig is 10-30 mg per day. 
6.	In the laboratory, the guinea pigs diet is much higher in energy density and lower in fibre content than the diet of green vegetation and fruits it consumes in the wild.
7.	Gestation period of rat and guineapig is 21 and 66-72 days respectively.
8.	The weaning age and weight of rats is 21d and 35g. 
9.	The maintenance energy requirement of guineapig is 136 Kcal ME/BWkgW0.75.
10.	The maintenance energy requirement of adult rat is 114 Kcal ME/BWkgW0.75.
11.	Carnivores such as lions and tigers prefer larger pieces of meat to alleviate hunger more readily than the smaller meat pieces. 
12.	Wild dogs usually eat in standing position in a hurried gulping manner as much food as they can and finish eating their prey quickly to avoid any undue attention.
13.	Chewing bones is a preferred activity among lions, tigers and jaguars and the activity is less in panthers. 
14.	In lion, tiger and jaguar the posture of consumption is of extending the forelegs and holding the meat while the hindlegs are tucked up within the body. 
15.	The large felines like tiger, lion, panther and jaguar eat in a very slow manner taking 16.5 minutes to 39 minutes.
16.	Tigers, jaguars and panthers show a preference for chicken meat over beef.
17.	Wild felids are obligate carnivores.
18.	Hippopotamus is a non-ruminant pre-gastric fermenter.
19.	Chief diet of bear consists of berries, fruits of achar, various tendus, amaltas, jamun, figs, bel and the flowers of mahua tree, white ants, honey and insects.
20.	Yaks have desire for salt due to leaching of minerals by rain water in hilly places.
21.	Herdsman for yak is called Brokpas.
22.	In yak the conversion efficiency of carotenes into vitamin A is less.
23.	National Research centre (NRC) on Yak is located at Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh.
24.	National Research centre (NRC) on Mithun located at Jarnapani, Nagaland.
25.	Salt hunger behaviour of Mithun is due to Na mineral deficiency.
26.	 The process of regurgitation and remastication is known as Merycism in non-ruminants
27.	Pseudoruminants are cud chewing and having stomach with three compartments.
28.	Arachidonic acid is not a dietary requirement as long as linoleic acid is in the diet.
29.	Cat requires linoleic, alpha-linolenic and arachidonic acids supplementation in diet because delta -5-desaturase activity is very low or absent. 
30.	 Water intake in Indian rhinoceros- 3.5-5.2 L/kg DM.
31.	Sodium requirements for wildlife are 0.05 to 0.4% of the dry diet. 
32.	Frugivorous bats lack the enzyme L-gulunolactone oxidase that is required for the synthesis of the vitamin C. 
33.	An effective pharmacologic therapy that supplies vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, electrolytes, and nutrients straight into the bloodstreams called Total Parenteral nutrition.
34.	Feline urologic syndrome (FUS) composed primarily of struvite (magnesium-ammonium-phosphate).
35.	Taurine (1g/day) and L-carnitine (2g/day) oral supplementations are beneficial in dog suffering from cardiomyopathy.
36.	 Fodder offered to captive animals showed fivefold higher linoleic acid compared to alpha linolenic acid.
37.	Birds that filter zooplankton from the water are known as Planktonivores.
38.	Birds that probe or drill for the saps, gums or resins in plants are known as Exudativores.  
39.	Faunivores are birds that consume foods almost exclusively of animal origin. 
40.	Precocial birds can move around and pick up their own food. 

MCQ
1.	Guinea pig is a strictly ---------- animal and have good appetite.
A.	Herbivore                                 
B.	Carnivore 
C.	Simple stomach                       
D.	both (A) and (C)
2.	Energy requirement for maintenance is------------- Kcal ME/BWkgW0.75.
A.	126                                           
B.	136
C.	133                                            
D.	130  
3.	Which vitamin cannot synthesize by the guinea pig?
A.	Vit A                                          
B.	Vit C
C.	Vit D                                         
D.	Vit E 
4.	Which of the following statements are true about guineapigs?
A.	The guineapig is simple stomached
B.	Synthesis of B vitamins & indispensable amino acids by microorganisms 
C.	Guinea pigs normally gain as much as 5-7 g/d
D.	Maintenance energy requirement is 114 Kcal ME/BW kg0.75.
(i)	(a), (b) and (d)                     
(ii)	(a), (b) and (c)
(iii)	(a), (c) and (d)                      
(iv)	All the above
5.	Which of the following statements are correct?
A.	Gestation period of guinea pigs is 66-72 d
B.	Gestation period of rats is 21 d
C.	Feed intake of adult guinea pigs is 15-20 g/d
D.	Maintenance energy requirement of rat is 114 Kcal ME/BW kg0.75.
(i)	(a), (c) & (d)                           
(ii)	(a), (b) & (d)
(iii)	(a) & (b)                                  
(iv)	All the above
6.	Which of the following statements are true about guinea pigs?
A.	BIS requirement of CP is 22%
B.	BIS requirement of CF is 9-14%
C.	Vit. C requirement is 200 mg/kg 
D.	BIS requirement of EE is 6-7%
(i)	(a), (b) & (d)                           
(ii)	(a), (b) & (c)
(iii)	(a) & (b)                                  
(iv)	All the above
7.	Which of the following statements are true about rats?
A.	BIS requirement of CP is 20%
B.	BIS requirement of CF is 6%
C.	Vit. C requirement is 200 mg/kg 
D.	BIS requirement of EE is 5%
(i)	(a), (b) & (d)
(ii)	(a), (b) & (c)
(iii)	(b) & (d)                                  
(iv)	All the above
8.	Which of the following statements are true about rats & mice?
A.	BIS requirement of CP is 24%
B.	BIS requirement of CF is 6%
C.	Maintenance energy requirement is 114 ME/BW kg0.75
D.	BIS requirement of EE is 5%
(i)	(a), (b) & (d)                           
(ii)	(a), (b) & (c)
(iii)	(b) & (d)                                  
(iv)	All the above
9.	Which of the following statements are correct for concept of purified diets?
A.	Diets are formulated with a more refined
B.	Sugar and starch as a source of carbohydrates
C.	Chemically pure inorganic salts & vitamins
D.	Vegetable oil and lard as source of fat and essential fatty acids
E.	Purified diets are often used in specific nutritional deficiencies and excesses 7 are more expensive to produce
(i)	(a), (b) & (d)                           
(ii)	(a), (b) & (c)
(iii)	(b) (c) & (e)                                  
(iv)	All the above
10.	The large felines like tiger, lion, panther and jaguar eat in a very slow manner taking-
A.	16.5 to 39 min                               
B.	30 mins 
C.	10 min                                            
D.	 30 to 45 mins
11.	Adult weight of an elephants is -----------.
A.	4000-5000kg                                          
B.	1000- 2000kg
C.	1700-5000kg                                        
D.	130 0-3000kg

12.	--------usually eats in standing position in a hurried gulping manner as much food as they can and finish eating their prey quickly to avoid any undue attention.
A.	Bears                                           
B.	Wild dogs
C.	Hippos                                         
D.	All the above
13.	Which of the following statements are true about hippopotamus?
A.	Two genera: Choeropsis liberiensis (Pigmy hippopotamus) & Hippopotamus amphibious (hippopotamus)
B.	Sebaceous gland is absent in hippos
C.	It is a non-ruminant pre-gastric fermenter 
D.	Birth weight of young one is 42kg.
(i)	(a), (b) and (d)                     
(ii)	(a), (b) and (c)
(iii)	(a), (c) and (d)                      
(iv)	All the above
14.	Which of the following statements are correct?
A.	Bear are true omnivores 
B.	In Hippopotamus are the 2nd largest land animals, first being the elephants
C.	Hippos are a non-ruminant pre-gastric fermenter 
D.	Indian rhinos are mainly grazers, they use a prehensile upper lip to gather tall grasses and shrubs
i)	(a), (c) & (d)                       
ii)	(a), (b) & (d)
(v)	(a) & (b)                                  
(vi)	All the above
15.	Scientific name of Captive blackbucks- 
A.	Talpa europea
B.	Antelope cervicapra
C.	Choeropsis liberiensis
D.	Luthra perspicillata
16.	Scientific name of Sloth bear
A.	Talpa europea
B.	Melursus ursinus
C.	Choeropsis liberiensis
D.	Luthra perspicillata
17.	Scientific name of Jackal
A.	Talpa europea
B.	Canis aureus
C.	Choeropsis liberiensis
D.	Luthra perspicillata
18.	Scientific name of Otter
A.	Talpa europea
B.	Melursus ursinus
C.	Choeropsis liberiensis
D.	Luthra perspicillata
19.	Scientific name of Mole
A.	Talpa europea
B.	Melursus ursinus
C.	Choeropsis liberiensis
D.	Luthra perspicillata
20.	Which animal feeds on insects
A.	Blackbucks 
B.	Moles and Indian pangolin
C.	Otter
D.	Hedgehog
21.	Which statements are true about Otters
A.	Aquatic mammals
B.	Predates on fishes, crabs, oysters, lobsters, prawns & snakes
C.	Their presence is an indication of pollution-free water & healthy aquatic life
D.	They are categorized under endangered spp. By IUCN
E.	They are insect eating mammal covered with spines
i)	(a), (b) & (c)
ii)	(b), (d) & (e)
iii)	(a), (b), (c) and (d)
iv)	All the above 
22.	Which statements are true about Hedgehog
A.	It looks like a sea urchin
B.	Predates on insects, frogs, eggs, chicken & snakes
C.	Their presence is an indication of pollution-free water & healthy aquatic life
D.	They have hollow hairs while porcupine has sharp spines
E.	They are insect eating mammal covered with spines
i)	(a), (b) & (c)
ii)	(a), (b), (d) & (e)
iii)	(a), (b), (c) and (d)
iv)	All the above 
23.	Which statements are true about Rhinoceros
A.	Name “ rhinoceros” derives from distinctive horns on the snout
B.	The Indian and Java rhinos have only one horn on the end of the nose
C.	Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is listed in Schedule I and part I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
D.	All rhinos are herbivores
i)	(a), (b) & (c)
ii)	(a) & (d)
iii)	(b) & (c)
iv)	All the above

24.	Ketosis mainly occurs in -----
A.	Wild ruminants
B.	Antelope
C.	Zebras
D.	Wild equids
25.	Ketosis in wild ruminants may show the signs of ---
A.	Ketonurea, Ketonemia, Ketolactea
B.	Hypoglycaemia
C.	Poor glycogen content
D.	Characteristic odour of ketone bodies
i)	(a), (b) & (d)
ii)	(a), (c) & (d)
iii)	(a), (b) & (c)
iv)	All the above
26.	Colic is more commonly encountered in case of ---
A.	Wild equids
B.	Elephants 
C.	Wild sheep and goats
D.	Zebras 
27.	Indian pangolin feeds on---
A.	Forage diet
B.	Ants & termites
C.	Snakes & frogs 
D.	Eggs & chicken
28.	Among the following, which is a pregastric fermenter
A.	Horse
B.	Elephant
C.	Rabbit
D.	Kangaroos
29.	Yaks and Mithuns are reared under
A.	Intensive system
B.	Semi intensive system 
C.	Extensive system
D.	Free ranged system
30.	The DCP and TDN requirement of Mithun (400kg BW) as per ICAR 2013
A.	DCP (330g) and TDN (3.8 kg)
B.	DCP (300g) and TDN (4.8 kg)
C.	DCP (230g) and TDN (2.8 kg)
D.	DCP (330g) and TDN (1.8 kg)
31.	Among the following, which is not a hindgut fermenter
A.	Rhinoceros
B.	Zebra
C.	Hippopotamous
D.	Ass
32.	Taurine synthesis does not occur in cat because 
A.	Cat is strict carnivorous
B.	Taurine presents in plant
C.	Taurine present in meat
D.	Both a & c
33.	The term used for soil consumption is  
A.	frugivorous
B.	Nectivorous
C.	Cophrophagia
D.	Geophagia
34.	Diets prescribed when sick animals unable to chew or ingest solid meal
A.	Soft diets
B.	Clear fluid diets
C.	Full fluid diets
D.	Both A and B
35.	Birds that eat primarily grasses are called
A.	Florivores
B.	Graminivores
C.	Exudativores
D.	planktonivores

36.	Tigers, Panthers and Jaguars kept under captive relishes- 
A.	Chicken
B.	Beef
C.	Pork
D.	Rabbit meat
37.	Mynah do not require- 
A.	Seeds
B.	Grit 
C.	Fruits
D.	Both A & B
38.	Ethnic community who herds yak is known as 
A.	Sherpas
B.	Brokpas
C.	Mompas
D.	Both B and C
39.	The consumption of soil, mostly in wildlife is called
A.	coprophagy
B.	Zoophagy
C.	Phytophagy
D.	Geophagia

40.	Among the following, which statements are correct for Hindgut fermenters?
A.	They have sacculated large intestine 
B.	Caecum is non compartmentalized
C.	Caecal fermenters are- guinea pigs and zebra 
D.	Colon fermenters is capybara. 
E.	Post gastric fermenters rely on large intestine for digestion of feed fibre.
I.	(a), (b) & (e)                           
II.	(a), (b) & (d)
III.	(a) (c) & (e)    
IV.	(b) (d) & (e)                                 
41.	Characteristics of Pseudo ruminant animals
A.	Three compartment stomach
B.	Cud chewing
C.	Wild Asses
D.	Both A & B
42.	Which of the following zoo animal is not an omnivore
A.	Sloth
B.	Flying fox
C.	Bear
D.	Gaur
43.	In total parenteral nutrition, feed nutrients and other required medications are given
A.	Intra muscularly
B.	Orally
C.	Intra venously
D.	Both A & B
44.	When sick animals unable to chew or swallow solid foods, which fluid diet is given
A.	Clear fluid diet
B.	Full fluid diets 
C.	Soft diets
D.	All of the above
45.	Among the following, which statements are not true about classification of Zoo animals 
A.	Classification is based on type of food they consume
B.	Classified into 3 division: Carnivorous, Omnivorous and Herbivorous 
C.	Three types of herbivores- Non ruminant herbivores, Pseudo ruminants and Ruminant herbivores
D.	Kangaroos, wallabies, peccaries and hippopotamus are examples of ruminant herbivores. 
i.	(a), (b) & (d)                           
ii.	(a), (b) & (c)
iii.	(b) & (d)                                  
iv.	(c) & (d)                                  

46.	Arachidonic acid is not a dietary requirement in herbivores and omnivores as long as
A.	Omega 3 fatty acid is present in diet
B.	Omega 6 fatty acid is present in diet
C.	Palmitic acid is present in diet
D.	None of above
47.	Strict carnivores cannot convert linoleic acid to arachidonic acid due to 
A.	Absent of delta -5-desaturase activity 
B.	Present of delta -5-desaturase activity 
C.	Present of L-gulunolactone oxidase
D.	Absent of L-gulunolactone oxidase
48.	Water requirements for wild/Captive animals obtained from
A.	Free water 
B.	preformed water contained in food 
C.	metabolic water 
D.	All of the above
49.	Water intake in Elephant - 
A.	approx. 150L of water/day.
B.	approx. 200L of water/day.
C.	approx. 250L of water/day.
D.	approx. 300L of water/day.
50.	Wild mammals (mainly by carnivores) get minerals by licking
A.	Red ant 
B.	Stones 
C.	Termites
D.	Both A and C
51.	Sodium requirements for wildlife are 
A.	0.05 to 0.4% Dry diet 
B.	0.5 to 1% Dry diet 
C.	1 to 1.5% Dry diet
D.	1 to 2 % Dry diet
52.	Granivores are susceptible to deficiency of 
A.	Vitamin C
B.	Vitamin K
C.	Vitamin E
D.	Vitamin D
53.	Vitamin C can be synthesised by
A.	Amphibians 
B.	Reptiles 
C.	Frugivorous bats 
D.	Both A & B

54.	Calcium and Phosphorus content in a diet for antler growth is
A.	0.64% Ca and 0.56% P 
B.	0.62% Ca and 1.0% P 
C.	0.56% Ca and 1.5% P 
D.	0.55% Ca and 1.5% P 
55.	Which statements are incorrect for feeding of geriatric animal?
A.	Diets should contain higher crude fibre
B.	Provide optimum quantity of minerals and vitamins
C.	Follow full stomach feeding
D.	Provide adlib tum water
i)	(a), (b) & (d)                           
ii)	(a), (b) & (c)
iii)	(b) (c)  & (e)  
iv)	(a) & (c)                                  
56.	Dry matter intake of wild goat-
A.	1.2 – 4.5% body weight
B.	1.5 – 5.9% body weight 
C.	1.5 – 3% body weight 
D.	Both B and C
57.	Dry matter intake of giraffe-                  
A.	1.0 – 3.5% body weight
B.	2.0 – 4.9% body weight 
C.	1.6 – 2.1% body weight 
D.	None of the above
58.	Hedgehog feds on
A.	fruits
B.	Cereals
C.	Insects
D.	Grasses 
59.	Which of the following statements are correct referring to specialist feeder in birds?
A.	Also called oligovore
B.	Food choice depends on season’s availability 
C.	Changing nutrient requirements
D.	Predators pattern
i)	(a), (b) & (c)                           
ii)	(b), (c) & (d)
iii)	(a) (c) & (d)  
iv)	All of the above
60.	Which bird is described as hardbills
A.	Parrots
B.	cockatoos
C.	Macaw
D.	Bengalese finches

61.	Examples of graminivores birds are
A.	Pelicans
B.	Plovers
C.	Kiwi 
D.	Swan
62.	Which statements are false in regards to grit feeding in birds?
A.	It is of two forms; soluble and insoluble
B.	Cuttlefish is insoluble form of grit feeds
C.	Crushed granite is soluble form of grit feeds
D.	Insoluble grit feeds are a source of calcium
E.	Stones aids in grinding of feeds 
i)	(a), (b) & (c)                           
ii)	(a), (c) & (d)
iii)	(a) (d) & (e) 
iv)	(b) (c) & (d
63.	DM intake of black buck –
A.	2.2-3.5% BW on oats and berseem fodder 
B.	2.2% BW on maize fodder 
C.	Both A & B 
D.	None of the above
64.	Which is a true omnivore
A.	Bear
B.	Hyena
C.	Giraffe
D.	None of the above
65.	Chewing bones is mostly seen in  
A.	Lions
B.	Tiger
C.	Jaguars
D.	All of the above
66.	Prehensile organ in Elephant is 
A.	Ear
B.	Tusk
C.	Togue
D.	Trunk
67.	Hippopotamus spent ___________ for feeding
A.	3-4 hrs in night
B.	5-6 hrs in day
C.	5-6 hrs in night
D.	3-4 hrs in day

68.	Among the following, which is not laboratory experimental animals
A.	Rabbits
B.	Hamster 
C.	Vole
D.	None of the above
69.	Ketosis is characterized by 
A.	Sweet to vinegar odour
B.	hypoglycemia 
C.	Hypocalcemia 
D.	Both A & B
70.	Rhinoceros are 
A.	Herbivore
B.	omnivore
C.	Pseudo ruminant 
D.	Both A & B
71.	Iodine deficiency in wild mammal cause
A.	Hypomagnesemia 
B.	Ketonurea 
C.	Hypothyroidism 
D.	All of the above
72.	Examples of birds under Polyvore (Generalist Feeder)
A.	Quail
B.	Phesants 
C.	Cranes
D.	All of the above
73.	Nidicolous chicks is also known as
A.	Precocial birds.
B.	Nidifugous chicks 
C.	Altricial birds 
D.	Florivores
74.	As per NRC, fibre requirements for Guinea pig are
A.	10%
B.	12%
C.	14%
D.	15%
75.	Yak is found at the altitude of
A.	2500-4500 metre above sea level. 
B.	3500-5500 metre above sea level. 
C.	3000 – 6000 metre above sea level. 
D.	2000 – 3500 metre above sea level. 

76.	Minimum requirements of vitamin C in Guinea pig (BIS)
A.	100 mg/kg
B.	150 mg/kg
C.	200 mg/kg
D.	250 mg/kg
77.	According to BIS, maximum requirement of CF% by weight in compounded feed of mice and rat
A.	4%
B.	5%
C.	6%
D.	7%
78.	Feed intake of growing and adult rat at maintenance is
A.	10 g/day/head
B.	15 g/day/head
C.	20 g/day/head
D.	25 g/day/head
79.	Feed intake per day of pregnant & lactating guinea pig is
A.	20 – 30 g
B.	30 – 40 g
C.	40 - 50 g
D.	40 – 60 g
80.	The process of regurgitation and remastication in non-ruminants is called
A.	Digestion
B.	Merycism
C.	Rumination
D.	None of the above

Match type questions
1.	Laboratory animals and their scientific name
List I	List II	
A.	Norway Rat	I.	Rattus rattus	
B.	Guineapig	II.	Mus musculus	
C.	Mice	III.	Rattus norvegicus	
D.	Black rat	IV.	Cavia porcellus	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II
b)	A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I
c)	A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
d)	A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II

2.	Match the column 
Table A	Table B	
A.	Rabbit & Guineapig	I.	136 kcal ME/BW kg0.75	
B.	Guineapig	II.	Gall bladder absent	
C.	Adult rat maintenance requirement	III.	Coprophagy	
D.	Rat	IV.	114 Kcal ME/BW kg 0.75	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II
b)	A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II
c)	A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
d)	A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II

3.	Feed intake of different lab animals
List I	List II	
A.	Adult guinea pigs	I.	30-40 g/d	
B.	Adult rats	II.	40-60 g/d	
C.	Pregnant guinea pigs	III.	30-50 g/d	
D.	Lactating rats 	IV.	15 g/d	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II
b)	A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II
c)	A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I
d)	A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II

4.	BIS requirement of mice & rats 
List I	List II	
A.	CP %	I.	24	
B.	EE %	II.	5	
C.	CF %	III.	6	
D.	TA %	IV.	9	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II
b)	A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II
c)	A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
d)	A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II

5.	BIS requirement of guineapig
List I	List II	
A.	CP %	I.	9	
B.	EE %	II.	200	
C.	CF %	III.	9-14	
D.	TA %	IV.	22	
E.	Vit C (mg/kg)	V.	4	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II, E-V
b)	A-V, B-I, C-IV, D-II, E-III
c)	A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV, E-V
d)	A-IV, B-V, C-III, D-I, E-II

6.	Match the column 
Table A	Table B	
A.	Macrofaunivore birds 	I.	Plant eaters	
B.	Microfaunivore birds	II.	Eagles	
C.	Phytophage birds 	III.	Sparrow	
D.	Concentrate selector	IV.	Penguin	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II
b)	A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
c)	A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
d)	A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II

7.	Feeding of birds
Table A	Table B	
A.	Graminivore 	I.	Flamingo	
B.	Granivores	II.	Seed eaters	
C.	planktonivore 	III.	sharp beaked ground Finch	
D.	Sanguinivore	IV.	Grass eaters	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II
b)	A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
c)	A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
d)	A-IV, B-II, C-I, D-III

8.	Match the column
Table A	Table B	
A.	Nidicolous 	I.	Precocial birds	
B.	Nidifugous	II.	Altricial birds	
C.	Altricial birds	III.	can move around and pick up their own food	
D.	Precocial birds	IV.	cannot move soon after hatch	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II
b)	A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
c)	A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
d)	A-IV, B-II, C-I, D-III

9.	Match the column
Table A	Table B	
A.	Yak	I.	Jarnapani, Nagaland 1988	
B.	Mithun	II.	Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh in 1989	
C.	NRC, Yak	III.	Bos frontalis	
D.	NRC, mithun	IV.	Bos grunniens	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-III, B-IV, C-IV, D-II
b)	A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
c)	A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
d)	A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

10.	Match the column
Table A	Table B	
A.	Drokpas	I.	Regurgitation and remastication	
B.	salt licking behaviour	II.	Yak herders	
C.	Geophagia	III.	Soil consumption	
D.	Merycism	IV.	Mithun	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-II, B-IV, C-III, D-I
b)	A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
c)	A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
d)	A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

11.	Match the column
Table A	Table B	
A.	Carnivore	I.	Sacculated large intestine	
B.	Omnivore	II.	Meat eaters	
C.	Foregut fermenter	III.	Both meat and plant eaters	
D.	Hindgut Fermenter	IV.	Sacculated forestomach	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-II, B-IV, C-III, D-I
b)	A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
c)	A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
d)	A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

12.	Match the column
Table A	Table B	
A.	Pseudoruminant	I.	Omnivore	
B.	Colon fermenter	II.	Camel	
C.	Caecal fermenter	III.	Wild asses	
D.	Bear	IV.	Zebra	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
b)	A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
c)	A-III, B-II, C-IV, D-I
d)	A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

13.	Match the column
Table A	Table B	
A.	Total Parenteral nutrition	I.	Intra venous	
B.	Clear fluid diets	II.	unable to swallow solid foods	
C.	Full fluid diets	III.	intolerance to foods	
D.	Soft diets	IV.	in post operative cases	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
b)	A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
c)	A-III, B-II, C-IV, D-I
d)	A-I, B-III, C-II, D-I

14.	DM intake of wild animals
Table A	Table B	
A.	Elephant	I.	1.6 and 2.1% Body weight	
B.	Giraffe	II.	1.4 - 1.6% Body weight	
C.	Wild buffalo	III.	1.5 - 5.9% Body weight	
D.	Wild goat	IV.	1.6-1.7% Body weight	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
b)	A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
c)	A-III, B-IV, C-I, D-I
d)	A-I, B-III, C-II, D-I

15.	Feeding habits of wild animals
Table A	Table B	
A.	Chewing bones	I.	Lion	
B.	extending the forelegs & hindlegs are tucked up within the body	II.	lions, tigers	
C.	lick the cage wall after food	III.	lions, tigers	
D.	drink water after feeding	IV.	Tiger	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
b)	A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
c)	A-III, B-IV, C-I, D-I
d)	A-I, B-III, C-II, D-I

16.	Match the column
Table A	Table B	
A.	Hippopotamus	I.	Absent	
B.	Sebaceous gland	II.	At night (5-6 hrs)	
C.	Feeding time	III.	Pregastric fermenter	
D.	Stomach	IV.	Hippopotamus amphibious	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
b)	A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III
c)	A-III, B-II, C-IV, D-I
d)	A-I, B-III, C-II, D-I

17.	Scientific names of wild animals
Table A	Table B	
A.	Hippopotamus	I.	Elephas maximus	
B.	Asiatic elephants	II.	Rhinoceros unicornis	
C.	Rhinoceros	III.	Antelope cervicapra	
D.	Blackbucks	IV.	Hippopotamus amphibious	
Tick the correct answer provided below:
a)	A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
b)	A-III, B-II, C-IV, D-I
c)	A-I, B-III, C-II, D-I
d)	A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III

Reference: 
1.	ICAR (2013), Nutrient requirement of Mithun and Yak.
2.	Klasing K.C. 1998; Comparative Animal Nutrition, CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8DE, UK.
3.	Textbook of Applied Nutrition Cats, Dogs, Wild Animals and Birds by DV Reddy (2014).