Palatability of a beef-based carnivore diet with fiber mixture

Citation

Lapinskas S, Woodward L, Dierenfeld ES, D’Amato-Anderson J, and Kerr K. 2019. Palatability of a beef-based carnivore diet with fiber mixture . In Brooks M, Freel T, Koutsos E Eds. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation and AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Saint Louis, MO.

Abstract

Scarcity of product diversity is one of the major roadblocks in providing thoughtfully presented, well-balanced diets to exotic carnivores. At San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG), the palatability of an experimental beef-based carnivore diet with a mixture of fibers from beet pulp (fermentable) and cellulose (non-fermentable) was evaluated (Central Nebraska Packing Inc, North Platte, NE). Two separate trials were conducted. Trial 1 offered experimental diet to polar bears (Ursus maritimus; n = 3). Trial 2 consisted of a two-bowl preference test (n = 11 individuals from 7 species; Table 1) with diet first-approached and first-consumed recorded. There were no reports of changes in dietary intake, fecal quality, and overall health in either trial. No diet preference was observed when data was evaluated across all animals in trial 2. These results indicate that the new beef-based diet with fiber mixture is well accepted across carnivore species and would be an appropriate dietary option.

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