Effects of neutral detergent fiber levels on apparent nutrient digestibility and intestinal microbiota composition and function in forest musk deer.

ABSTRACT: This experiment was conducted to explore the effects of different neutral detergent fiber (NDF) levels on nutrient apparent digestibility and intestinal microbiota composition and function in adult male forest musk deer (FMD) (Moschus berezovskii). A total of 18 adult male forest musk deer (FMD) (aged 4-10 years) with an initial average body weight of 7.09 ± 0.82 kg were selected and randomly divided into three groups with different NDF levels: L: 21.60%, M: 25.14%, and H: 28.47%. The FMD were used in a 50-day trial. The results showed that the apparent digestibility of NDF and acid detergent fiber (ADF) first increased and then decreased as NDF levels rose, with the M group showing the highest digestibility (p < 0.05). The H group exhibited significantly higher (p < 0

SUBMITTER: Dai Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12460106 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature