Indices for physiological assessment of nutritional condition in pregnant collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu)

Hematological and serum biochemical responses to two levels of dietary energy (high energy HE], 3300 kcal digestible energy DE]/kg; moderate energy ME], 2300 kcal DE/kg) and protein (high protein HP], 16.0% crude protein; moderate protein MP], 8.4% crude protein) during gestation in 15 collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) were examined. Dietary energy and protein levels influenced body weight gain during gestation. Red blood cell counts and lymphocyte concentrations were higher and neutrophil concentrations were lower among females fed an HP diet compared to those fed an MP diet. Alkaline phosphatase and alpha-2 globulin concentrations were higher among females fed an MP diet. Aspartate aminotransferase and cholesterol concentrations were higher and calcium and thyroxine concentrations were lower among females fed ME diets compared to those fed HE diets. These results suggest that physiological indices used in combination with morphological measurements can be useful in assessing collared peccary nutritional health during gestation.