INTENSITY OF CONSUMPTION AND DIGESTIBILIT Y OF FOOD IN EAST CAUCASIANTUR (CAPRA-CYLINDRICORNIS)

In captivity the absolute amount of the food consumed in Caucasian tur amounts to 900-1500 g of dry matter per day, independently of the foo d quality. In adults the absolute food consumption in summer, on avera ge, is 1.8 times higher and the relative one (per kg of body mass) is 1.5 times smaller than in young animals, In winter the level of absolu te consumption in adult and young animals is similar while the relativ e level of food consumption by young animals is 3 times grater than in adults. This fact is associated with the absence of winter reducing t he consumption of food by young animals while in adults this decrease is distinct and in subadults it's slightly noticed. Limiting the mobil ity (keeping in cages) lowers food consumption 1.4 times. While grazin g the turs of natural pastures of different plant production (6.4-36.5 centners per ha), the level of food consumption does not differ, but the duration of grazing was by 3.5 hours longer on pastures of low pla nt production. The species composition of the consumed plants changed depending on the pasture productivity, Digestibility of different kind s of foods ranged within 41-81% and was related to the moist cellulose content.