Term
| What scientist is well known for studying parrot nutrition at Guelph? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is a challenge with feeding rare/exotic bird breeds? |
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Definition
-successfully breeding & feeding them
-difficult to feed the same foods they would eat in the wild
-can be very specific with their breeding habits/practices |
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Term
| What breed of parrot discussed in class was once predominant in the wild, but now only exists in captivity & is extinct in the wild? |
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Definition
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Term
| What as passiformes? Give an example, and what type of diet they eat |
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Definition
Perching birds e.g. canaries & finches
-variety of vegetation, seeds, insects, sometimes small mammals
-often eat seeds in captivity |
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Term
| Parrots, parakeets, budgies & African grey parrots all below to the family of.... |
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Definition
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Term
| What is unique about Macaws' beaks? |
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Definition
| they are very powerful so that they can get access to the nutrients inside tough-shelled seeds like Brazil nuts |
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Term
| What researcher discussed in class studied at UC Davis, and what was his topic? |
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Definition
Kirk Klasig
-studied risk of zinc toxicity from birds chewing the bars of their galvanized steel cages |
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Term
| Which group researchers did extensive research on the basic nutritional requirements of bird species? Where did they study? |
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Definition
Kaphus et al
University of Hannover, Germany |
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Term
| What research was done at Michigan state regarding avian nutrition? |
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Definition
-analyzed seed mixture of various diets sold in stores
-corn grain was common as it is a cheap ingredient! |
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Term
| What is the issue with feeding a corn-based diet to birds? |
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Definition
good energy source but it is low in protein and has a poor AA profile
-if given the choice birds will eat corn over other things despite being less nutritionally balanced
-haven't evolved to have corn as a part of their diet, eat it because it's easy to eat but not nutritrious |
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Term
| What is one important factor to be considered when comparing diets composed of variety types of seeds based on weight? |
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Definition
-different seeds have different proportions of hull VS nutritious kernel
e.g. canary seed - small shell, lots of kernel
macadamia nuts, low kernel weight lots of shell
-need to factors this in when analyzing content by weight vs nutritional benefits of seed components |
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Term
| What effect does removing the hull of seeds have on the protein & general nutrient profile per kg of seed? |
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Definition
| increases it significantly |
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Term
| What is the main nutrient found in seeds? |
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Definition
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Term
True or False
If seeds are high in energy from an oil source, they will likely be lacking in the content of other nutrients |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the important AAs to be considered in avian nutrition? Why? What is usually the most limiting AA in diets? |
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Definition
Lysine (need 0.8%) *most limiting
-if low in lysine feathers growth is irregular, becomes barred
Methionine & Cysteine - essential for feather production |
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Term
| What seed is high in lysine? |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe the digestibility of avian diets. How is it measured? |
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Definition
Measure in ME (birds excrete feces & urine simultaneously)
white & red millet & canary seed are highly digestible
corn & soybean meal slightly less
Birds are very efficient at assimilation of energy from nutrients! |
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Term
| What is one effective means of studying birds' diets in the wild, based on they physical appearance? |
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Definition
Ptilochronology
feather growth over time reflects the nutritional status of the animal |
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Term
| What breed of bird requires Vit C as an essential part of the diet? |
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Definition
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Term
| What ratio of Ca:P is needed for birds? What if they are laying hens? |
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Definition
1% : 0.5-1%
4% : 1% if laying |
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Term
| What are some important sources of Ca in the diet? How do birds get Ca in the wild? |
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Definition
oyster shell & ground limestone (dissolves in proventriculus, bioavailable)
-also gritty & helps with grinding in the gizzard
-picking at dust with Ca in it
-eating bones ground by predators |
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Term
True or False
Adding pigments into the diet of perching birds can affect the colour of their feathers |
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Definition
True
But only during periods of feather growth! |
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Term
| What carotenoid is reponsible for the pink colour in flamingos? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is unique about the colouring of Electus Parrots? |
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Definition
-males & females express different pigments
-colours is due to Psittacofulvings manufactured in the feather follicle (not diet related) |
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Term
| Describe the important aspects of a bird's beak, crop & proventriculus |
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Definition
Beaks
-important to be able to remove shell of seeds as this only adds weight, inhibits digestion
-have poor taste buds & olfactory sense
Crop
-warm moist environment or food storage to provide food even at night (birds have high BMR need constant energy input)
Proventriculus
-enzyme & acid (pepsin & HCL) released to initiate digestion |
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Term
| Describe the important aspects of a bird's ventriculus, large intestine & ceca |
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Definition
Ventriculus (gizzard)
-muscular mechnical grinding area
LI
-very short, limited ability for hindgut digestion
Ceca
-blind pouches for fermentation, not all birds have them, not usually well developed |
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Term
Which bird does not have a gizzard? Why?
Which bird has well-developed ceca? Why? |
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Definition
Gizzard: hummingbird
-eat nectar, no need for mechanical grinding
Ceca: rhea
-don't fly, extra weight of fermenting food in hindgut is not a problem |
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Term
| What line of Purina products is a popular choice for feeding 'pocket pets'? What were they originally designed for? |
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Definition
Mazuri line of foods designed for feeding zoo animals
-have now extended into feeding a wide variety of pocket pets including chinchillas, crickets & lagomorphs |
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Term
| Why are we concerned with cricket nutrition? |
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Definition
| want to create nutritionally enriched crickets which will in turn be fed to iguanas, toads & other carnovires/omnivores |
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Term
| Why do we have a very detailed understanding of nutritional requirements of rats & mice? |
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Definition
| they have long been used as research subjects so we have lots of information on toxicities, deficiencies, digestion etc |
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Term
| Why are rats & mice popular as research subjects? |
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Definition
they have a short life span, high metabolic rates, breed easily/are easy to reproduce
-dry land/desert adapted = easy to keep |
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Term
| Describe some important traits of the GI tract of hamsters & other similar pocket pets |
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Definition
-large hindgut & ceca for fermentation
-simple SI
-slightly compartmented stomach, with acid-secretion and non-acid secretion portions
-haustrated colon to slow down passage of digesta and improve fiber fermentation |
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Term
| What is unique/important about the GI of guinea pigs vs lagamorphs? |
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Definition
-have a highly innervated ileocecocolic junction to control passage of digesta from ileum to colon
-have a colonic furrow which separates large & small fibr particles, moving them back up to the junction for further cecal fermentation
-more effective utilization of the fiber component of the diet |
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Term
| Describe some important trains of the GI tract of rabbits & hares (lagamorphs) |
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Definition
-small stomach & SI, well developed cecum
-stomach secretes acid, initiates protein digestion
-SI secretes pancreatic & SI enzymes to break down glucose, protein etc. & absorb
-cecum has effective microbial fermentation but limited absorption of nutrients
-proximal colon absorbs Na & K
-haustrated colon |
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Term
| What is the importance of the VFAs produced by microbial fermentation in the hindgut of rabbits? |
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Definition
-all are energy substrates
-acetate = lipogenic
-propionate = gluconeogenic
-butyrate = energy for cells lining hindgut |
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Term
| How are small rodents able to survive without water for long periods of time |
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Definition
| they are very efficient at using the water produced endogenously during metabolism |
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Term
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Definition
consuming fur, usually due to lack of fiber in diet
-often seen in rabbits |
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Term
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Definition
-cecotrope pellet are pushed out by cecum, often ingested directly from anus (kept in anaerobic state)
-pellets are rich in VFAs and high in protein vs normal feces
-allows absorption of the B vitamins produced by microbes in the hindgut during fermentation |
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Term
| Why is caeotrophy important for maximizing intake of vitamins A, D & E? |
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Definition
It's not.
Only B Vitamins are produced by microbes in the hind gut |
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Term
| What are the nutritional benefits of caprophagy? |
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Definition
-can access nutrients produced by microbes (lysine, methionine, V vitamins)
-can access minerals which were not bioavaiable prior to microbial action (e.g. phosphorous bound in phytic acid)
-can colonize the gut with appropriate microorganisms for fermentation |
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Term
| What vitamin is required in guinea pigs but not in most other mammals? Why? |
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Definition
Vit C
-they lack the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase |
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Term
| Which have a higher protein requirement, rats & mice or gerbils & hamsters? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is unique about the eating patterns of rats? |
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Definition
they are selective about new foods
-will try a small amount of a new food and wait to see how it affects them before eating more |
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Term
| What is a good source of fiber when feeding guinea pigs, hamsters & lagamorphs? |
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Definition
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Term
| What determines the colour of an iguana? |
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Definition
genetics, not diet
-affected by season, photoperiod & stress |
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Term
| Give 2 examples each of species belonging to the suborders Sauria, Serpentes & Chelonia. Specify whether they are herbivores, omnivores or carnivores |
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Definition
Sauria
-iguanas, skinks (H)
-bearded dragons (O)
-monitors & bearded lizards (C)
Serpentes
Boas, pythons, vipers (all are carnivores)
Chelonia
Snapping turtle (C)
Painted turtle, reeves turtle, river turtle (O) |
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Term
| How might the diet of a turtle change as they age, in regards to protein? |
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Definition
| Often eat more protein (meat based diet) when young & growing, the switch to a primarily vegetarian diet when they are adults and protein requirements are less |
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Term
| Describe the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, soluble & insoluble fiber for reptiles |
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Definition
DM, OM = highly digestible
Insol siber = low digestibility
Sol fiber = good digestibility through hindgut fermentation |
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Term
| Which has a lower energy requirement, reptiles or mammals of equivalent size? |
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Definition
| reptiles as they are cold blooded, have very low BMR in comparison |
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Term
| Why is the low digestibility of insoluble fiber not necessarily a bad thing for reptiles? |
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Definition
| It is good if you are needing to control the animal's weight |
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Term
| What reptilian study provided extensive information on diets for carnivores, omnivores and herbivores? |
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Definition
Food For Reptiles
McNamara (2014) |
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Term
| Describe the diets recommended by McNamara for herbivores, omnivores and carnivores |
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Definition
CARNIVORES
-mealworms, flies, crickets, mice (no carbs)
OMNIVORES
-slugs, snails, crickets, fruits, veggies (20-75% carbs)
HERBIVORES
-greens, fruits, veggies, clover, grasses (55-75% carbs) |
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Term
| What are the advantages of feeding fresh greens/fruits/veggies/meat to reptiles? |
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Definition
| provides more moisture than feeding pre-made pelleted/flaked feeds, and may provide more Vit A depending on what is being fed |
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Term
| Describe the importance of temperature for reptiles |
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Definition
-most prefer 25-30 degrees celsius
-will seek out areas in cages with these temperatures
-if temp is too low, metabolic rate will lower, they won't eat
-if they have food in the GI tract when temps lower it will get stuck & ferment (need empty GI tract before going into hibernation!) |
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Term
| What is one important concern when feeding birds manually? |
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Definition
| if you overload the crop, food will get stuck there and ferment |
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Term
| Why is moisture important for reptiles? |
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Definition
-lose lots of moisture through the skin
-can experience metabolic issues if too dry
-will experience dysecdysis (impaired skin shedding) |
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Term
| What is a concern with feeding small newborn mice/rats to carnivores or omnivores? What about large adult rodents? |
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Definition
Newborns are mainly water, low in protein, Vit A, energy & fat
Adults have increased risk of causing Vit A toxicity as it is stored in the liver |
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Term
| What is a concern with feeding invertebrate prey to reptiles, such as crickets & worms? How can you fix this |
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Definition
have a very poor Ca:P ratio
-can sprinkle calcium carbonate on the prey before feeding
-can use gut-loaded prey
-involves feeding the prey diets high in Ca, which will be passed on to the reptile
-Ca component must persist in the gut, without having negative effects on the prey |
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Term
| What are the two biggest diet-related concerns with reptiles? |
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Definition
Metabolic Bone Disease
Gout |
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Term
| What is another term for metabolic bone disease? |
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Definition
| nutritional secondary hyperthyroidism |
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Term
| What causes metabolic bone disease? |
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Definition
-lizards cannot use Vit D2, need to get D3 from diet or synthesize in skin via UV exposure
-25 hydroxycholecalciferol (calcidiol) is stored in liver, converted to 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol)
-calcitriol stimulates Ca uptake, or release of Ca from bone
-if there is not enough Ca in diet, or no D3 source, bones will get weak |
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Term
| What are some bad choices of fruits/veggies in terms of Ca:P? Good? What are 2 important concerns regarding Ca availability? |
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Definition
Bad: cucumbers, tomatos, bananas
Good: brocooli, dandelion greens
*oxalic acid in many leafy plants binds Ca, rendering it unavailable
*glucosinolates in leafy greens prevent iodine uptake |
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Term
| What are some examples of lizards that do not need UV light for D3 synthesis? Examples of lizards that absolutely do? |
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Definition
don't: leopard geckoes, eye skinks
do: komodo dragon |
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Term
| Describe the progression of metabolic bone disease |
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Definition
1. Low dietary Ca or poor Ca:P in diet
2. Increased release of parathyroid hormone
3. Increased mobilization of Ca from bone, & P loss through kidneys
4. Progressive skeletal demineralization
5. Skeletal deformity, pain, death
-femur fractures & spinal collapse are common |
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Term
| What causes gout in reptiles? What are the 2 types of gout? |
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Definition
Due to deposition of uric acid crystals (tophi) in tissues
Visceral gout = deposition in organs & abdominal membrane
Articular gout = deposition in joints |
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Term
| Describe the effects of gout in reptiles, what causes gout and diets likely to cause gout |
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Definition
-N is primarily excreted through uric acid in reptiles
-animal-based protein diets (e.g. cat food) are high in N, therefore high in uric acid production
-asparagus is also high in N, don't feed!
-aside from excess N, gout also caused by impaired renal function associated with aging
-dehydration increases uric acid levels in blood leading to crystal formation |
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Term
| Describe some unique aspects of the digestive tracts of snakes |
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Definition
-simple GI tract
-no ceca
-minimal fermentation
-carnivores often have disengageable jaws to allow for large meals
- |
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Term
| Describe some unique aspects of the digestive tracts of tortoises |
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Definition
-simple GI tract
-more developed SI than snakes
-no ceca |
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Term
| Describe some unique aspects of the digestive tracts of iguanas |
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Definition
| -hindgut has some haustration to flow passage of food & increase fermentation |
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Term
| What is the typically effective wavelengths of UV light for Vit D3 production? |
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Definition
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Term
| Compare the contents of hard feces to cecotroph pellets |
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Definition
Hard feces are higher in crude fiber
Cecotrophs are higher in moisture, protein, B vitamins, microbes |
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Term
| Why is it important to balance legumes & grasses when feeding birds? Give examples of each |
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Definition
Legumes are too high in fat on their own
-canola, soybean, peas
Grasses are too low in Ca on their own
-corn, oats, sunflower
*need to be part of a balanced ration |
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Term
| How are the GI tracts of birds adapted for flight? |
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Definition
-high BMR
-light, simple GI tract |
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Term
| What was the issue with formulating commercial diets based on laboratory studies, before AAFCO regulations were established? |
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Definition
-lab studies are very controlled with high quality ingredients
-commercial industry uses less pure ingredients, following the same diet protocols as in the lab does not work |
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Term
| What is the issue with using NRC recommendations? |
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Definition
| NRC relies on the industry for funding publishing, so there is a contradictory bias based on what the industry wants to see published |
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Term
| How have nutritional studies on dogs & cats changed from 1980 onwards? |
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Definition
-in 1980 law was passed banning euthanasia of test animals at the end of studies
-means you cannot measure tissue levels of metabolites
-procedures now are very non-invasive
-recently started using stable isotopes to be able to detect breakdown products, allowing continued research after a low 'quiet' period after the ban |
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Term
True or False
AAFCO regulates & certifies pet foods |
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Definition
False
Pet food companies must follow AAFCO protocols, but testing is all done on the company's own dime
-AAFCO sets standards but does not enforce them |
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Term
| What is ingredient splitting in pet food labeling>? |
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Definition
-can split components of one large group into their individual portions
e.g. 'cereal grains' divided into corn, rice, corn gluten
-makes it seem as though these are present in smaller proportions, and the meat component appears greater than the grain |
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Term
| Why would a company label ingredients 'as mixed' |
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Definition
-this indicates ingredients are measured when fresh rather than dried
-alters the order in which they appear on the ingredient list
e.g. chicken is heavy when fresh, can go 1st on the ingredient list by weight making it seem like a more significant component than it really is |
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Term
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Definition
| -formulation of a feed must be at least 95% of what's in the name e.g. 'Beef Hot Dogs' must be at least 95% beef *however if the ingredient is coupled with a primary descriptor it only has to be 25% e.g. "Beef Dinner" only has to be 25% beef |
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Term
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Definition
-a 'with' ingredient must make up at least 3%
e.g. "Dog food with Lobster" is at least 3% lobsteer |
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Term
True or False
Therapeutic diets must follow AAFCO protocols |
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Definition
False
there is no category for therapeutic diets |
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Term
| What are the 2 means AAFCO allows to determine ME? |
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Definition
Using a modified Atwater formula
ME(kcal/kg) = 10[(3.5X CP )+ (8.5 X CF) + (3.5 X NFE)]
OR
Following testing procedures established by AAFCO |
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Term
| What are the AAFCO regulations regarding statements of caloric content? |
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Definition
-must be separate & distinct from the Guaranteed Analysis, under heading 'Calorie Content'
-must be measured in terms of ME on an as fed basis, expressed in kcal/kg
-ME must be determined using the modified Atwater formula |
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Term
| Which AA has a maximum for cats? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the flavour rule? |
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Definition
| Product must contain a source of the flavour but can be less than 3% |
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Term
| What are the AAFCO feeding protocols for experiments regarding caloric content? |
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Definition
-8 health animals, 26 week minimum
-diet fed ad libitum or estimated needs
-measure food consumption daily, & weight at beginning, during & end
-mean weight loss must be <10%, no indiviual >15%
-failure if any clinical or pathological signs of deficiencies appear
PUPPIES & KITTENS - same as above except...
-from at least 3 different litters
-puppies <8wks, kittins <9 wks old
-minimum 10wk duration
-weight gain must be <75% average (80% cats)
-males & females assessed separately |
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