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Carcass composition of spur‐winged geese with comments on reproduction and moulting
Author(s) -
HALSE S. A.,
DOBBS J. C.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.1985.tb00945.x
Subject(s) - moulting , reproduction , biology , zoology , feather , composition (language) , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , larva
Summary Spur‐winged geese at Barberspan, an agricultural area in South Africa, had an average carcass composition of 64% water, 22% protein, 6% lipid, 6% minerals and 2% carbohydrate with an energy content of 21.6 kJ g ‐1 DW. There were significant changes during the year in protein and lipid levels; they were lowest during the annual flightless wing moult. Protein and lipid levels also declined during breeding but this event had less effect on body reserves than moulting. The relationships between various body measurements and mineral content of the carcass (as an estimate of skeletal weight) were examined.