FORMULA C 



FORMULA F 



Figure 25. — Relation between birthwelghts and subsequent 

 weights of eight captive pups, by formula, St. Paul Island, 

 1 July to 4 August 1966. Pup no. 3 died on 25 July and no. 

 8 on 22 July. 



Evaluation of Formula 



The rate of gain in weight was the primary 

 criterion for evaluating and comparing for- 

 mulas C and F. The relation between individual 

 and group average birthweights and subsequent 

 weights of the eight pups, by formula, is 

 shown in figure 25. Weekly weights, in kilo- 

 grams, are shown in table A-27. 



The combination of calcium caseinate and 

 fish flour in formula C appeared to produce 

 greater and more rapid weight gains than 

 formula F with fish flour alone as the protein. 

 Pups Z and 4 were ten-iporarily dehydrated 

 from vomiting (possibly because of overfeed- 

 ing) when weighed on 28 July. Before the 

 trials ended, one pup in each group died fronn 

 undetermined causes. 



Figure 26 shows the progress of pup care 

 and feeding trials represented by the best 

 individual records of captive pups from 1963 

 to 1966. Weight gains by rookery pups for a 

 similar period are included for comparison. 



In 1964, rookery pups gained at the rate of 

 about 0.5 kg. per week (females 0.42; males 

 0.52) for the first 5 weeks. Four of six captive 

 pups in 1966 equalled or surpassed this rate 

 during the 4th and 5th week, although they lost 

 weight during the first 2 weeks. Several 

 factors probably contributed to failure of the 

 pups to make adequate gains the first 3 weeks: 

 Excess water used to make the formula fluid 

 prevented pups from getting sufficient solids 

 until they were able to digest greater volumes. 

 Time was required for the digestive system 

 of pups to adjust to the differences between 

 formula and seal milk; normal digestion was 

 hampered by overfeeding, leading to weight 



loss from diarrhea which may have been 

 aggravated by treatment for parasites; pups 

 did not receive a natural measure of passive 

 immunity to infectious microbes before they 

 were captured; and pups were under the stress 

 of being held in captivity (separation from 

 their mothers, and handling and force feeding 

 by humans). 



Disposition of Captive Pups 



At the end of the feeding trials (35 days) 

 the six surviving pups were shipped by air to 

 the Stanford Research Institute where arti- 

 ficial rearing was continued. Pup number 5 

 died on route, and pup number 1 died when a 

 feeding tube was mistakenly passed down the 

 trachea. From 5 August to 11 November the 

 weight of pup number 2 increased from 6.5 

 to 9.9 kg.; pup number 6, 5.7 to 9.9 kg.; and 

 pup number 7, 5.9 to 8.4 kg. Each was fed a 

 formula similar to formula C. 



Pup number 4 was transferred to the San 

 Jose Zoo where its diet was changed to blended 

 fresh mackerel fingerlings, whale oil, and 

 water on 17 August. Its daily intake was 0.57 kg. 

 (20 oz.) of mackerel, 0.20 kg. (7 oz.) of whale 

 oil, 0.34 kg. (12 oz.) of water, and a multi- 

 vitamin capsule. -^^ By 12 October, the pup 

 was spending half its time in water, where it 

 learned to swallow whole mackerel (about 

 10.2 cm. (4 inches) long). Just before its 

 death from a strangulated umbilical hernia 

 on 1 December, this pup was eating about 

 1.6 kg. (3,5 lb.) of fresh mackerel per day. 



10 



Theragran, Squibb. 



45 



