Milk composition of the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis sumatrensis)

Z., Zainal Zahari and A., Mohd Tajuddin and S., Mohd Samsuddin and A.R.K., Marid Hassan (1998) Milk composition of the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis sumatrensis). [Journal / Magazine]

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Abstract

Knowledge of the milk composition of the Sumatran rhinoceros will be an essential part of the captive-breeding programme if hand-rearing or nutritional supplementation becomes necessary. As with the other rhinoceros species, the chances of acquiring rejected calves are unavoidable. Similarly, in countries of origin, the potential of finding strayed or orphaned Sumatran rhinoceros calves are inevitable. Based on milk samples collected from a single lactating female, the major composition of Sumatran rhinoceros milk at 3 days lactation consists of 11.24% total solids, 0.99% fat, 4.17% protein, 5.38% lactose and 10.27% non-fat-solids. The fat and protein content were reduced markedly to 0.07% and 1.37%, respectively at 2 years lactation. This information provides a basis for formulating milk substitute to feed any hand-reared Sumatran rhinoceros calves.

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