Mixed diets consumed by Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) in relation to that served during experimental studies

Abstract

The ratio of the amount of energy and protein ser ved to that eaten was investigated in Rhesus monkeys accustomed to a mixed diet composed of corn, pellets. a mixture of germinated barley, oats, wheat, field peas and fruit. The animals were investigated both while served their habitual diet and an isoealoric protein-reduced diet. Great inter- and intra-animal variations were found in the ratio ot‘energy and protein ingested to that served. The proportion of protein ingested to that served increased when the isocaloric protein-restricted diet was introduced. The amount of food ingested from the mixed diet differed between the animals. in the individual animals over time, and with the different diets. The food intake can not be adequately described from what is being sewed to the animals but must be based on direct estimates of what is actually being consumed by each individual animal during a sufficiently long period of time,