Captive Diet
Formulated Diet
Red kangaroos can be maintained on a pelleted mixture of cereal straw and lucerene/alfalfa hay, though fresh grass should be provided to increase the diet's digestible-energy content [8]. Additional supplementation of fresh grass should be added to diets of young juveniles, which have 1.7-1.8 times the maintenance energy requirement (MER) of mature adults, and pregnant/lactating females [11]. Individuals are expected to consume between 1% and 2% of their total body weight, depending on their activity level and physical state and their diet can fluctuate with the seasons [12].
Seasonal Variation:
- Summer: If possible, individuals should be sustained on an equal 1:1 ratio of pasture grass and lucerene/alfalfa hay that comprises 1% of the individuals body weight. Water and salt licks containing appropriate ratios of calcium and phosphors (2:1) should be provided continuously.
- Winter: If kangaroos are housed in an environment where pasture grass is not available year round then a winter diet of a 1:1 ratio of a pelleted mixture and lucerene/alfalfa hay that comprises 2% of the individuals body weight should be provided. Water and salt licks containing appropriate ratios of calcium and phosphors (2:1) should be provided continuously also.
Red kangaroos can be maintained on a pelleted mixture of cereal straw and lucerene/alfalfa hay, though fresh grass should be provided to increase the diet's digestible-energy content [8]. Additional supplementation of fresh grass should be added to diets of young juveniles, which have 1.7-1.8 times the maintenance energy requirement (MER) of mature adults, and pregnant/lactating females [11]. Individuals are expected to consume between 1% and 2% of their total body weight, depending on their activity level and physical state and their diet can fluctuate with the seasons [12].
Seasonal Variation:
- Summer: If possible, individuals should be sustained on an equal 1:1 ratio of pasture grass and lucerene/alfalfa hay that comprises 1% of the individuals body weight. Water and salt licks containing appropriate ratios of calcium and phosphors (2:1) should be provided continuously.
- Winter: If kangaroos are housed in an environment where pasture grass is not available year round then a winter diet of a 1:1 ratio of a pelleted mixture and lucerene/alfalfa hay that comprises 2% of the individuals body weight should be provided. Water and salt licks containing appropriate ratios of calcium and phosphors (2:1) should be provided continuously also.
Summer Feeding Example
A 50 kg individual should receive 1% of their body weight divided in half as a 1:1 ratio of: 250 g pasture grass 250 g lucerene/alfalfa hay This diet is comprised of: - 8413.575 kJ/g maintenance energy - 12% crude protein - 40% ADF - 59% NDF - 32% crude fiber - 2% crude fat - 7.5% ash - 22% WSC - 1.25% Ca & 1.35% P (salt licks that's provide an appropriate ratio of Ca:P of 2:1 should be provided to offset the Ca:P ratio in the diet) - 5.4 mg/kg Vitamin E (vitamin E supplementation should be provided in the daily feed so each individual receives 25 mg/kg a day in order to prevent the formation of muscular dystorphy) |
Winter Feeding Example
A 50 kg individual should receive 2% of their body weight divided in half as a 1:1 ratio of: 500 g grazer pellets 500 g lucerene/alfalfa hay This diet is comprised of: - 9524.55 kJ/g maintenance energy - 15.7% crude protein - 25% ADF - 38% NDF - 19% crude fiber - 2.8% crude fat - 8% ash - 34% WSC - 1.1% Ca & 0.45% P (salt licks should be provided during winter months as well) - 36% Vitamin E (no supplementation of vitamin E is needed during this winter diet) |
*These diets provide maintenance energy requirements for individuals with low activity levels. If individuals are moderately to highly active then the diet for that individual may need to be increased in order to provide enough energy.
Alterations:
Diets may need to be altered do to any individual specifications, such as for growing juveniles, lactating and/or pregnant females. Juveniles should receive an extra 1.5-2 times the normal daily amount of an adult similar in size [11]. Pregnant and lactating females should receive 2-3 times that of their daily nutrients in comparison to their body weight in the summer and 5 times that of their daily nutrients in winter.
Feed Presentation:
Feed should be presented in a manner of styles. If pasture grass is available, then individuals should have access to that ad libitum. Lucerene/alfalfa hay should be spread enough throughout the enclosure so that every individual has access to it. Pelleted mixtures can either be scattered around the enclosure in a wide enough area so no one individual has access to all the feed, or in a long trough. The trough should be long enough to allow all individuals to feed at once without any competition or aggression [13]. Monitoring individuals exact feed intact may be difficult so close monitoring of individuals appearance, body condition and weight should occur.
Diets may need to be altered do to any individual specifications, such as for growing juveniles, lactating and/or pregnant females. Juveniles should receive an extra 1.5-2 times the normal daily amount of an adult similar in size [11]. Pregnant and lactating females should receive 2-3 times that of their daily nutrients in comparison to their body weight in the summer and 5 times that of their daily nutrients in winter.
Feed Presentation:
Feed should be presented in a manner of styles. If pasture grass is available, then individuals should have access to that ad libitum. Lucerene/alfalfa hay should be spread enough throughout the enclosure so that every individual has access to it. Pelleted mixtures can either be scattered around the enclosure in a wide enough area so no one individual has access to all the feed, or in a long trough. The trough should be long enough to allow all individuals to feed at once without any competition or aggression [13]. Monitoring individuals exact feed intact may be difficult so close monitoring of individuals appearance, body condition and weight should occur.