Influence of dietary fiber type and amount on energy and nutrient digestibility, fecal characteristics, and fecal fermentative end-product concentrations in captive exotic felids fed a raw beef-based diet

Abstract

Little nutritional or metabolic information has been collected from captive exotic cats fed raw diets. In particular, fiber types and concentrations for use in raw meat-based diets for captive exotic felids have not been well studied. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of fiber type and concentration on apparent total tract energy and macronutrient digestibility, fecal characteristics, and fecal fermentative end-products in captive exotic felids. Four animals of each captive exotic species (jaguar (Panthera onca), cheetah (Acinonyz jubatus), Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), and Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) were randomized in four 4 × 4 Latin square designs (1 Latin square per species) to 1 of the 4 raw beef-based dietary treatments (94.7 to 96.7% beef trimmings): 2 or 4% cellulose or 2 or 4% beet pulp. Felid species, fiber type, and fiber concentration all impacted digestibility and fecal fermentative end-products. Inclusion of beet pulp increased (P ≤ 0.05) fecal short-chain fatty acids and fecal output in all cats. Inclusion of 2 and 4% cellulose, and 4% beet pulp increased (P ≤ 0.05) fecal bulk and diluted fecal branched-chain fatty acid concentrations compared with 2% beet pulp. Apparent total tract DM, OM, fat, and GE digestibility coefficients decreased (P ≤ 0.05) linearly with BW of cats. Additionally, fecal moisture, fecal score, and concentrations of fermentative end-products increased (P ≤ 0.05) with BW. Although the response of many outcomes was dependent on cat size, in general, beet pulp increased wet fecal weight, fecal scores, and fecal metabolites, and reduced fecal pH. Cellulose generally reduced DM and OM digestibility, but increased dry fecal weight and fecal percent DM. Although beet pulp and cellulose fibers were tested individually in this study, these data indicate that the optimum fiber type and concentration for inclusion in captive exotic felid diets is likely a combination of fermentable and nonfermentable fibers, with the optimal fiber blend being dependent on species. Smaller cats, such as cheetahs and jaguars, tolerated fermentable fibers, whereas larger cats, such as Malayan and Siberian tigers, appeared to require more insoluble fibers that limit fermentation and provide fecal bulk. Further research is required to test whether these trends hold true when fed in combination.

Effect of feeding Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) root as prebiotic on nutrient utilization, fecal characteristics and serum metabolite profile of captive Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) fed a meat‐on‐bone diet

“…From the results of this experiment and earlier reports, it is seems that supplementation of JA may favorably modulate the hindgut micro‐biota of Indian leopard fed a meat‐on‐bone diet. A comparison with the fecal microbial profiles of other felids would indicate that the concentration of coliformes and Clostridium spp., as observed in this study, was similar to those reported in other felids [Vester et al, ; Kerr et al, ]. Research conducted earlier have indicated that the concentrations of Lactobacillus species were higher in cheetah, jaguar, Malayan tiger, and Siberian tiger fed a horse meat based diet as compared to those fed a beef‐based diet.…”

“…The apparent digestibility of CP ranged from 84.6 to 87.8% (mean 86.8 ± 0.19), which was within the range of 83.1–89.7% reported in captive leopard [Barbiers et al, ]. However, apparent digestibility of CP was higher (90–97%) in felids fed meat trimmings or muscle meat [Kerr et al, ]. Lower apparent digestibility of CP as observed in this study in leopards could be attributed to higher content of bones, ligaments and tendons in meat‐on bone as compared to muscle meat.…”

“…Concentrations of Bifidobacterium spp. as observed in this experiment were higher than the concentrations reported in other felids [Vester et al, 2010;Kerr et al, 2013]. However, Kanakupt et al [2011] reported that Bifidobacterium concentrations in cat feces vary according to the nature of the diet and could be increased by supplementation of galato-oligosacchharrides.…”

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)

“…Research in exotic felids has focused on diets with components that are easily digestible (i.e., raw meat) with little attention paid to animal and plant dietary fibers [Clauss et al, ]. Apparent total tract digestibility was high for all diets (OM digestibility >85%); however, apparent total tract macronutrient digestibilities by cats fed Ground in this study were the highest and within the ranges reported previously for cats fed raw diets [Vester et al, ; Kerr et al, ]. Of the few studies in the literature pertaining to raw diets, evidence for increased digestibility of raw versus extruded diets exists in sand cats [Crissey et al, ] and African wildcats [Vester et al, ].…”

“…Apparent total tract CP digestibility was low for cats fed Extruded. Inclusion of fermentable fiber has been reported to decrease apparent total tract CP digestibility dietary fiber source [Kienzle et al, ; Sunvold et al, ; Vester et al, ; Kerr et al, ]. The Extruded contained beet pulp, a moderately fermentable fiber source, while Canned contained cellulose, a low fermentable fiber.…”