Apparent total tract macronutrient and energy digestibility of 1- to- 3-day-old whole chicks, adult ground chicken, and extruded and canned chicken-based diets in African wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica)

Abstract

Our objectives were to evaluate the composition of whole 1- to- 3-day-old chicks (Whole), ground adult chicken (Ground), chicken-based canned diet (Canned), and chicken-based extruded diet (Extruded); and evaluate apparent total tract energy and macronutrient digestibility of these diets by four captive African wildcats (Felis silvestrus lybica) utilizing a Latin Square design. We analyzed diets for macronutrient and mineral (Ca, P, K, Na, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and S) composition, and screened for potentially pathogenic bacteria. Canned and Extruded diets tested negative for all microbes and met macronutrient and mineral recommendations for domestic cat foods [AAFCO (2012). Official publication. Oxford, IN: AAFCO]. Whole prey diets (Ground and Whole) met macronutrient requirements for domestic cats; however, they were below recommendations in some minerals [Mn, Cu, K, and Na; AAFCO (2012). Official publication. Oxford, IN: AAFCO], and tested positive for potentially pathogenic microorganisms (Salmonella, E. coli spp.). For all diets, apparent total tract organic matter digestibility was high (>85%). Organic matter digestibility was higher (P ≤ 0.05) for cats fed Ground (94%) compared to those fed Canned, Extruded, or Whole (87, 86, and 85%, respectively). Apparent total tract crude protein digestibility was lower than expected (i.e., <85%) for cats fed Extruded (81%) and fat digestibility was lower than expected (i.e., <90%) for cats fed Whole (82%). Cats fed whole prey items tested herein adequately maintained BW short-term; however, long-term studies are needed. These data indicate that there may be a need to monitor whole prey composition and when necessary, adjust the diet to account for potential deficiencies.

Commercially available avian and mammalian whole prey diet items targeted for consumption by managed exotic and domestic pet felines: Macronutrient, mineral, and long‐chain fatty acid composition

“…While these data indicate that mineral replete whole prey are commercially available, to determine if mineral concentrations consistently meet or exceed recommendations further analysis are necessary. Researchers have reported mineral concentrations below domestic cat recommendations (low Cu, Mn, and K concentrations) for whole prey items, including mice, rats, and quail [Clum et al, 1996, 1997; Dierenfeld et al, ; Kerr et al, ]. Similar to data reported herein, not all whole prey analyzed in those studies were below AAFCO [] recommendations.…”

“…Because of this variation, species‐specific differences are not readily predictable. Few researchers have performed in‐depth examinations of nutrient composition of commonly fed whole prey [Davidson et al, ; Douglas et al, ; Dierenfeld et al, ; Clum et al, ; Kerr et al, ; Kerr et al, submitted‐a], with little attention paid to commercially available frozen whole prey. A large portion of data on whole prey comes from anecdotal, unpublished, or non‐peer reviewed sources [Powers et al, ], or primarily focuses on non‐nutritive aspects [Bond and Lindburg, ; Shepardson et al, ; Ziegler, ].…”

Partial replacement of dietary buffalo meat on the bone with chicken carcass improves serum antioxidant profile of zoo‐housed Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca)

“…It was reported that most limiting nutrients in meat diets of exotic cats were copper, iodine, vitamin A, and vitamin E (Ullrey & Bernard, ). Ground chicken or whole chick fed to African wild cats supplied only 2 and 4 mg/kg DM of Cu (Kerr, Morris, Burke, & Swanson, ). Whole prey samples had Cu concentration below NRC () recommendation for domestic cat.…”

Faecal microbiota of domestic cats fed raw whole chicksv.an extruded chicken-based diet

“…For example, commercially available 1–3-d-old chicks (CHI) are approximately 72–76 % CP, 16–20 % fat and <5 % nitrogen-free extract ( 14 , 15 ) . Previous studies have shown that extruded and whole-prey diets differ in digestibility as well as macronutrient composition ( 14 – 17 ) , and this may alter the fermentable substrates that are available to the gastrointestinal microbiota for fermentation ( 18 , 19 ) . The objective of the present study was to compare the faecal microbiota of cats fed an EXT chicken-based diet to those fed commercially available whole CHI.…”