Evaluation of nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics of exotic felids fed horse- or beef-based diets: use of the domestic cat as a model for exotic felids
Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding commercially available beef- and horse-based diets on nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics of large captive exotic felids and domestic cats. Four species of large exotic felids including cheetahs, Malayan tigers, jaguars, and Amur tigers, and domestic cats were utilized in a crossover […]
Nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics are different among captive exotic felids fed a beef-based raw diet
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20172.abs Nutrient digestibility has not been well characterized in exotic felids. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate differences in nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics in five large exotic captive felid species, including bobcats, jaguars, cheetahs, Indochinese tigers, and Siberian tigers. All animals were individually housed and adapted to a beef-based raw diet […]
Influence of different dietary calcium levels on the digestibility of Ca, Mg, and P in captive-born juvenile Galapagos giant tortoises (Geochelone nigra)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1035.abs Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) are very important minerals in reptile nutrition, but many diets still are not balanced. To achieve optimal growth, including a healthy skeleton and a strong shell, a well-balanced supply with these minerals is prerequisite. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the digestibility of diets with different […]
Seasonal energy utilization in bamboo by the red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(2000)19:13.3.CO;2-0 Seasonal energy intake and digestion of bamboo by red pandas were measured in energy balance trials at the field station at an altitude of 3,100 m in Yele Natural Reserve, Mianning County of Sichuan Province, Peoples Republic of China. Two-week trials were conducted at monthly intervals by feeding animals with only natural bamboo […]
Feed intake and digestion in the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus): Consequences for dietary management
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430130410.abs Captive maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) often consume diets high in prey and meat items even though they are omnivorous in the wild. These soft, high protein diets may exacerbate conditions of gingivitis and cystinuria in this species. Feed intakes were monitored in wolves provided with prey and meat-based diets (3 periods) and subsequently […]
Estimating the diet of urban birds: The problems of anthropogenic food and food digestibility
A variety of methods exist for assessing the diets of wild birds, each of which has its strengths and weaknesses. The objective of this study was to compare diet data collected in parallel by behavioural observations and faecal analysis from an urban population of Penelope superciliaris (rusty-margined guan) over a 12-month continuous period (April 2006 […]
Effect of feed type and sex on digestibility and feed efficiency utilization in black spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata)
Abstract Digestibility, feed efficiency, and the effect of sex were evaluated in black iguanas (Ctenosaura pectinata) using two commercial pellets (rabbit and chicken). The experiment was performed in 80 iguanas in a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement 2×2 over 105 days. No differences were detected by food type in weight gain (chicken vs. […]