21st Annual Student Research Conference
Digestibility of Prepared Diets in Selected Wild Felines
Nicole L. Novak
Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor
Closure of horse slaughter plants in the United States has made horsemeat-based diets for zoo felines more difficult to obtain. The current study compared Toronto brand horsemeat to Dallas Crown brand horsemeat for the black jaguar, ocelot, and caracal at the Phoenix Zoo. Data gathered included diet offered, diet remaining, feeding time, temperature, percent humidity, fecal output, and stool quality score. Various tests were performed on fecal samples to determine the percent of moisture, dry matter, and crude protein, along with multiple elements. Preliminary analysis shows that the digestibility of the diets offered did not vary greatly in the majority of the areas tested.
Keywords: digestibility, diet, felines, zoo
Topic(s):Agricultural Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 29-3
Location: VH 1428
Time: 1:45