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
2014
Kerr, Katherine R. | Kappen, Kelly L. | Garner, Lindsay M. | Swanson, Kelly S.
Whole prey diets encourage species‐typical behaviors making them popular in the zoo and home setting for captive exotic and domestic felids, respectively. We evaluated macronutrient, mineral, and long‐chain fatty acid composition of 20 whole prey items: mice (1–2, 10–13, 21–25, 30–40, and 150–180 days of age); rats (1–4, 10–13, 21–25, 33–42, and >60 days of age); rabbits (still born, 30–45 days, >65 days with skin, and >65 days of age with skin removed); chicken (1–3 days of age, ground adult); duck (ground adult); and quail (1–3, 21–40, and >60 days of age). Composition of whole prey was highly variable (15–40% DM, 34–75% CP, 10–60% fat, and 8–18% ash). A majority of whole prey samples (15/20) had at least one mineral or fatty acid below AAFCO [] or NRC [] minimum recommended concentrations for domestic cats (K, Na, Cl, Mg, Cu, Mn, and/or Zn; total fat, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid and/or EPA and DHA). These data identify potential nutrient deficiencies allowing for alterations in dietary formulation prior to long‐term feeding. Zoo Biol. 33:327–335, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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