Structural and nonstructural carbohydrate, fat, and protein composition of commercially available, whole produce

Abstract

Previously reported values for produce items often reflect only the human edible portion although animals generally eat the entire item. Produce can comprise a significant proportion of a captive, exotic animal's diet; therefore, nutrient values based on whole items will enable a more accurate diet formulation. Whole produce items, including fruits, vegetables, and leafy green vegetables, were analyzed for dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, crude protein, fat, ash, pectin, fructan, and free sugar concentrations. The free sugars were typed and quantified. As expected, the produce contained low concentrations of neutral detergent fiber, averaging 13.4% for fruits, 18.8% for vegetables, and 21.5% for leafy green vegetables/other items on a 100% dry matter basis. Produce ranged substantially in structural and nonstructural carbohydrates, protein, fat, and free-sugar concentration. Free-sugar ratios of glucose, fructose, and sucrose varied among items. This information can be used for more accurate formulation of zoological diets.

Comparative digestion studies in wild suids at Rotterdam Zoo

“…Therefore, a supply of products that provide fiber that these species can use efficiently-HC, and most likely soluble fibers such as pectins-would appear appropriate. As evident from the data collection of Schmidt et al [2005], sweet potato, spinach, mushrooms, corn cob with husk, chickpeas, or banana flowers would represent corresponding diet items; in addition, compound feed based on beet pulp rather than on grains would meet this specification [Hummel et al, 2006c].…”

“…To our knowledge, there are no reports on the fiber composition of the fruits, roots, and tubers that form an important part of the diet of most of these suid and peccary species. In the survey on vegetable composition by Schmidt et al [2005], some tuber vegetables have very high levels of HC, both in absolute (% DM) and relative (% total NDF) terms-such as the sweet potato (HC: 15% DM, 75% NDF); on the other hand, other tuber vegetables such as carrots or radish have very low HC contents (0.8-1.4% DM, 8-9% NDF). Therefore, it cannot be decided whether HC is a particularly important diet component of wild suids and peccaries, and whether the observed discrepancies between HC and cellulose digestion should be considered as a particular adaptation to the composition of the natural diet.…”

Fütterung und Kotkonsistenz von Flachlandtapiren (Tapirus terrestris) im Zürich Zoo

“…Aufgrund dieser Tatsachen, und weil wilde Früchte sich in ihrer Zusammensetzung fundamental von kommerziell erhältlichem Obst unterscheiden , SCHMIDT et al 2005, gilt für Tapire wie für viele andere grosse Pflanzenfresser die Wasserbad noch deutlich ausmachen lassen (Abb. 4 …”

Evaluation of undesirable fibrous tissue in processing carrots using Computed Tomography (CT) and structural fiber biochemistry

“…peeling) (Bolin and Huxsoll, 1991;Howard and Griffin, 1993;Rodríguez-Sevilla et al, 1999;Gamboa-Santos et al, 2013) in carrot nutritional constituents, fresh carrot quality, and appearance. However, minimal work has been done to study the presence of undesirable fibrous tissue in processing carrots, including the in vivo physiological/morphological location of fibrous tissue, and the structural compounds/ polymers (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) (Schmidt et al, 2005), which might be related to the presence of undesirable fibrous tissue. Better understanding and an efficient detection method of the presence of undesirable fibrous tissue in carrots will enable the carrot processing industry to offer a better quality and safer product, therefore increasing consumer satisfaction and decreasing industry liability issues.…”