Diet and Nutrition of the Pronghorn Antelope

Pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) in northwestern South Dakota consumed at least 32 different plants species. Major forage plants were big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentate), silver sage (A. cana), yellow sweet clover (Meliotus officinalis), gold aster (Chrysopsis villosa), and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis). Cultivated small grain crops were not a major food source of pronghorn. Differences in diet composition, plant groups, plant groups and time of use and plant group, area, month interaction were significant. Average in vitro digestion of 31 food plants was 51 percent. Mean digestion of grasses was 57 percent, forbs 42 percent, and shrubs 55 percent. Yearling male pronghorn needed 85.91 g/kg water and 123.17 kcal/kg to maintain themselves for one day.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Year

1978

Author dc:creator

• Messenger, Norman C.

• Natural Resources and Conservation

Statement dc:rights

• <p>No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only<br /><a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/</a></p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/182

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1182