Zoo Biology 21:135–147 (2002) © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Nutrient Intake and Apparent Digestibility of Diets Consumed by Captive Duikers at the Dambari Field Station, Zimbabwe Amy B. Plowman* Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Devon, UK The nutrient intake and apparent digestibility of two diets fed to seven species of captive duikers at the Dambari Field Station, Zimbabwe, were examined. The original diet consisted of pellets, mixed grain, and fruit (approximately 11% pro- tein, 21% NDF) and the revised diet of pellets and vegetables (approximately 14% protein, 31% NDF). The revised diet resulted in an increased intake of protein and fiber, and a reduced intake of nonstructural carbohydrate and fat, and was therefore more comparable to the natural diets of duikers. The revised diet also resulted in an increased intake of most minerals (except sodium). Total dry-matter intake increased on the revised diet, but estimated digestible energy decreased. The revised diet was intended to provide 75% of calories from the pellets, but in fact the revised diet as consumed resulted in 85% of calories be- ing derived from pellets. Achievement of the lower number is recommended to decrease the intake of iron and copper. Fecal quantity was significantly greater, and apparent digestibility of dry matter, protein, NDF, and ADF significantly less for all species on the revised diet compared with the original. Apparent digestibility of fiber by red duikers was comparable to that of common duikers, and was affected similarly by the diet change. However, it was less comparable to that of blue and yellow-backed duikers, suggesting that the diet of free-rang- ing red duikers may be more similar to that of common duikers than to that of the other forest duikers. Zoo Biol 21:135–147, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Key words: browse; Cephalophus spp.; fiber; fruit; Sylvicapra grimmia; vegetable INTRODUCTION The proper nutrition of captive animals is a fundamental requirement of good husbandry [e.g., Allen, 1995; Zwart, 2000]. Diets in captivity are usually, by necessity, different from those of free-ranging animals [Hatt, 2000], and they need to be formu- *Correspondence to: Amy B. Plowman, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Totnes Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7EU, UK. E-mail: aplowman@paigntonzoo.org.uk Received for publication March 21, 2001; Accepted May 11, 2001. DOI 10.1002/zoo.10035 Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).