Abstract:

The aims were to understand the characteristics of mineral element contents in forage plant leaves of forest musk deer, and enrich the database of feed composition and nutritive value. Using 21 kinds of forage plant leaves for captive forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) as test materials, 8 mineral elements were analyzed by principal components (factors) and cluster analysis. The results showed that: (1) the average contents of mineral element were as follow: Ca(1.891±0.847)%, K(1.561±1.455)%, Mg(0.257±0.171)%, P(0.220±0.096)%, S(0.216±0.035)%, Fe (161.442±144.361) mg/kg, Zn (82.022±76.664) mg/kg, Cu(3.191±1.919)mg/kg. (2) The first three principal components (with eigenvalues >1) with a cumulative contribution rate of 77.107% were extracted, after variance maximum rotation, the loading coefficients of the first factor P, K, S, and Mg were higher, the second factor Cu and Fe were higher, and the third factor Ca and Zn were higher. (3) Q-type analysis was clustered into 6 categories, while R-type analysis was clustered into 4 categories, including Zn, Ca, Cu and Fe, and other elements. In summary, the content of S was relatively stable, Ca: P value (from3.16:1 to 26:1) was higher than the normal requirement ratio of the body, the content of Cu was generally low, which couldn't meet the daily requirement of adult musk deer, Mg was rich, Fe was low, and Zn and P couldn't partly meet the requirement; the comprehensive evaluation model of main mineral elements was established; the first factor was involved in acid-base balance, protein metabolism, and activation of various enzymes in musk deer, the second factor was related to various enzymes, tissue respiration, biological oxidation, and hematopoiesis function; the third factor reflected neural conduction, enzyme components or activation, etc.

Key words: forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), plant leaves, mineral element content, principal component and cluster analysis, comprehensive evaluation